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The NewPower Co. has been designated sole interim pooler for the Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) market by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) for a one-year term starting in July. The interim pooler is a safeguard against bankruptcies for the 1.3 million gas customers in AGL’s territory the state, which has seen several marketers fail since AGL exited the gas merchant business two years ago. NewPower won the position over several other suppliers, including Infinite Energy and Georgia Natural Gas, after meeting certain criteria of the Public Service Commission.

Citing a newfound “emphasis on the natural gas in the past eight months,” California regulators last Thursday moved ahead on several key natural gas issues, while delaying action on electricity issues that are caught up in concurrent state legislative proceedings. The regulators also provided an exemption for rolling blackouts for the major petroleum refineries in the state.

Citing a newfound “emphasis on the natural gas in the past eight months,” California regulators Thursday moved ahead on several key natural gas issues, while delaying action on electricity issues that are caught up in concurrent state legislative proceedings. The regulators also provided an exemption for rolling blackouts for the major petroleum refineries in the state.

If you trade natural gas, yesterday was a good day to be glued to your chair. Approximately eight minutes ahead of its scheduled 2 p.m. EDT release, the American Gas Association reported that a whopping 106 Bcf was added to underground storage facilities during the week ending June 15, bringing working gas in storage levels to 49% full at 1,609 Bcf. Futures reacted instantly, tumbling 15 cents to $3.75 just 10 minutes after the report was released. The prompt July contract would never recover from the initial selling surge and finished 24.7 cents lower at $3.734.

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp. last week struck out again in its eight-year effort to obtain firm-to-the-wellhead (FTW) transportation rates similar to those enjoyed by its competitors.

Eight months after its inception, TradeSpark continues to climb the ranks of online exchanges, announcing late last week that it has purchased TCT Natural Gas Inc., a Houston natural gas brokerage house, and opened a TradeSpark office in Houston. The company said the new division will give the New York-based energy marketplace a stronghold in the Houston area and immediate gas options trading capabilities.

In an emergency motion filed at FERC last week, eight powermarketers serving California asked the Commission to bar theCal-ISO and Cal-PX from disclosing confidential information abouttheir companies and/or practices – absent adequate safeguards – tostate agencies investigating the out-of-control electricity marketin the state.

Responding to tight energy supplies in the Pacific Northwest andCalifornia, PG&E Corp.’s National Energy Group revealed plansWednesday to begin an open season early next year, kicking off afive-year expansion effort. The first phase would add 200 MMcf/d offirm transportation capacity out of western Canada on its GasTransmission-Northwest (GTN) pipeline system. The PG&E GTNgroup expects the phase one expansion to be in service by November2002 at the latest.

In an emergency motion filed at FERC this week, eight powermarketers serving California asked the Commission to bar theCal-ISO and Cal-PX from disclosing confidential information abouttheir companies and/or practices — absent adequateconfidentiality safeguards — to state agencies investigating theout-of-control electricity market in the state.