Distribution

Interstate natural gas pipelines, electric utility transmission owners and local distribution companies believe FERC has gone over-board in its proposed rule that would completely wall off the regulated transportation/transmission companies from their unregulated affiliates to prevent the exercise of market power, while shippers and consumers — who would benefit most from the stricter rule — think the Commission has struck the right balance.

Southwest local distribution utilities and municipal distributors have called on FERC to reject, or convene a technical conference to consider, El Paso Natural Gas’ application to boost export capacity on the Samalayuca Lateral by about 100 MMcf/d to meet natural gas demand in northern Mexico. They argue that such action would deprive existing El Paso customers of already-tight capacity on the pipeline’s South Mainline.

Southwest local distribution utilities and municipal distributors have called on FERC to reject, or convene a technical conference to consider, El Paso Natural Gas’ application to boost export capacity on the Samalayuca Lateral by about 100 MMcf/d to meet natural gas demand in northern Mexico. They argue that such action would deprive existing El Paso customers of already-tight capacity on the pipeline’s South Mainline.

The terrorist attack on New York delayed a shareholder vote on Montana Power Co.’s planned sale of its gas and power distribution business to NorthWestern Corp. for $602 million in cash and assumption of $488 million in debt. The vote was scheduled to take place on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Theater in Butte, MT, however the New York company in charge of tabulating the votes was affected by the terrorist attacks. In addition, the New York Stock Exchange was closed and isn’t expected to open until today.

The terrorist attack on New York has delayed a shareholder vote on Montana Power Co.’s planned sale of its gas and power distribution business to NorthWestern Corp. for $602 million in cash and assumption of $488 million in debt. The vote was scheduled to take place on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Theater in Butte, MT, however the New York company in charge of tabulating the votes was affected by the terrorist attacks. In addition, the New York Stock Exchange is closed and isn’t expected to open until Monday.

The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) has assumed the lead role to direct operations following the uncontrolled release Sunday of storage cavern ethane and the resulting fire from two wellheads at BP Canada’s natural gas liquids plant near Fort Saskatchewan, AB. While there were no reported injuries, EUB said the incident is “impacting other petroleum operations within the province involving both upstream natural gas liquids production and downstream natural gas liquids product use.”

Coping with a colder-than-normal 2000-01 winter heating season, local distribution companies went into the spot market for 13% of their peak day purchases, compared to 9% the previous winter, according to an American Gas Association survey of 50 LDCs.

While power outages were still viewed as an inevitability thissummer in California, a comprehensive legislative, regulatory andcommercial solution to mounting energy debts was less certain lastweek as reports surfaced that creditors might force bankruptcy onthe state’s two ailing utilities.

Finding no evidence of illegal activity on the part of localdistribution gas companies, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixonstill wants the state’s system of natural gas regulation overhauledbecause it does not provide consumers with appropriate protectionsfrom “dramatic price increases.”