A very divided FERC yesterday dealt a major blow to thecontroversial Independence Pipeline and associated SupplyLinkexpansion projects, requiring each to submit long-term firmcontracts for about 70% of capacity before they can beginconstruction, as well as to satisfy more than 100 environmentalconditions.
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Divided FERC Votes Against Subsidies for New Pipes
As Floyd wreaked havoc up and down the East Coast last week,Hurricane FERC wrought its own brand of torrent on new pipelineconstruction. Shifting its policy more toward a market-based andconsumer-oriented focus, the Commission voted out (4-1) a policystatement eliminating set requirements for supporting contracts andany presumption for rolled-in pricing that would raise the rates ofexisting customers.
Industry Still Divided on Pipeline Rules
Based on comments filed by trade associations last week, thenatural gas industry is split straight down the middle on most ofthe major initiatives in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR)and notice of inquiry (NOI) – with the regulated pipelines and LDCssupporting proposals that would lighten FERC’s grip on pipelinetransportation, and non-regulated producers, marketers andmunicipal distributors concerned the measures could wreak havoc.
FERC Bypasses PDs for Northeast Pipeline Projects
A very divided FERC last week broke with a decade-old procedureby leapfrogging the preliminary determination (PD) step in fourcontroversial pipeline projects intended to carry Canadian gas fromthe U.S. Midwest to the Northeast gas market. Instead, it deferredaction on the fate of the projects until all of the environmentalreviews are completed – “hopefully” by early next fall. Projectsponsors had mixed reactions: they were disappointed by the breakwith PD procedure, but they also were encouraged by FERC’sassurance of a final vote by fall. And all said – at least publicly- they still planned to move forward with their separate projects,but sources said privately sponsors were re-evaluating whether itwas “worthwhile to go ahead.”
FERC Withholds PDs for Northeast Pipeline Projects
A very divided FERC yesterday broke with a decade-old procedureby leapfrogging the preliminary determination (PD) step in fourcontroversial pipeline projects intended to serve the Northeast gasmarket. Instead, it deferred action on the fate of the projectsuntil all the environmental reviews are completed – “hopefully” byearly next fall.
Vastar Sets Reserve Record, Steady Budget
Vastar Resources replaced 215% of its 1998 production with newreserves, its highest-ever reserve replacement rate. Provedreserves additions totaled 1,052 Bcfe, or 1,023 Bcfe inclusive ofdivestitures. Year-end total reserves were a record 3,700 Bcfe, up17% over the year-end 1997 base. Average reserve replacement costs,including acquisitions, were $1.11/Mcfe.
Industry Meetings Begin Debating NORP, NOI
The first of a series of industry-sponsored meetings aimed atbringing the divided gas segments closer together on some of themajor regulatory initiatives proposed by FERC got underway inHouston last week. Not surprisingly, industry representatives atthe initial session agreed to narrow the “primary focus” of theirnegotiations to two proposals to ease pipeline rate regulation -short-term capacity auctioning and negotiated terms and conditions.