Design

ISO New England Inc. last Thursday said that its new standard market design (SMD) for the region will become operational on March 1, 2003. The move follows failed pleas by Connecticut’s attorney general that the grid operator delay implementation of the SMD proposal out of concern that it will spike electric rates in the state.

FERC’s sweeping proposed standard market design (SMD) for U.S. wholesale power markets could result in unnecessary rate increases in Virginia and service interruptions that would not otherwise occur under current market conditions in the state, a new report issued by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) warns.

Several Pacific Northwest lawmakers are urging FERC to stop pursuing its proposed standard market design (SMD) for U.S. wholesale electricity markets, saying that Congress hasn’t given the federal agency the green light to pursue such an undertaking and arguing that the proposal does not take into account the distinct nature of the Northwest’s energy grid.

A standard market design (SMD) for U.S. power markets, which FERC is set to unveil for comments next week, will hopefully go a long way in offering clear “rules of the road” to energy market participants nervous about whether they will be able to recoup money they put into the development of new generation assets, FERC Chairman Pat Wood told federal lawmakers on Wednesday.

Construction of Williams’ Canyon Station — a fixed-leg platform in 300 feet of water in East Main Pass Block 261 — has been completed and is ready to receive up to 500 MMcf/d from 10 subsea wells 55 miles out in the deepwater Camden Hills, Kings Peak and Aconcagua fields. The Gulf of Mexico platform was completed on a fast, 18-month track. Deliveries are expected to begin in late September when feeder lines are connected, reaching 300 MMcf/d by the end of October and full capacity by the end of the year.

Kern River Gas Transmission announced last Monday it had completed construction and was flowing gas through emergency expansion facilities on its Kern River natural gas transmission system. The expansion, which consisted mostly of adding compression, increased delivery capacity of the Wyoming to California pipeline by 135,000 Dth/d.

FERC approved Northern Border Pipeline Co.’s rate settlement,which converts the pipeline’s rate design to straight-fixedvariable from cost of service and which imposes a moratorium onrate changes until Nov. 1, 2005.

FERC approved Northern Border Pipeline Co.’s rate settlement,which converts the pipeline’s rate design to straight-fixedvariable from cost of service and which imposes a moratorium onrate changes until Nov. 1, 2005.

Northwest Pipeline put shippers on notice last week that itplans to undertake a system enhancement program and will begintaking requests for a pipeline expansion project. The enhancementprogram, which will involve adding pipeline looping andcompression, is designed in part to resolve a supply displacementproblem stemming from an expiring contract.