Electronic

E-commerce services provider Automated Power Exchange Inc. (APX)said its new electronic power trading platform does not fall underthe FERC’s jurisdiction because it uses no price-settingmechanisms. The company challenged the FERC over its jurisdictionof power trading and said the recent denial of its petition willhave little impact on the Santa Clara, CA-based company.

Southern Company opened its new energy trading floor in Atlantayesterday, establishing the electronic nerve center of thecompany’s growing body of North American assets.

The New York Mercantile Exchange said it will move electricitytrading from open outcry to the Nymex Access electronic tradingsystem following the close of trading March 2. At the 4 p.m. startthat day of the Access session, which marks the start of the March3 trading session, the Exchange will list all of its existingelectricity futures and options contracts for trading on the systemthrough 2:30 PM the next day. The contract will begin trading at 4p.m. Monday through Thursday evenings and will begin trading at 7p.m. Sundays.

The New York Mercantile Exchange said it will move electricitytrading from open outcry to the Nymex ACCESS electronic tradingsystem following the close of trading March 2. At the 4 p.m. startthat day of the ACCESS session, which marks the start of the March3 trading session, the Exchange will list all of its existingelectricity futures and options contracts for trading on the systemthrough 2:30 PM the next day. The contract will begin trading at 4PM Monday through Thursday evenings and will begin trading at 7p.m. Sundays.

Houston-based Shell Energy, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Co., choseEnergy Services Group (ESG) of Pembroke, MA, to provide electronicdata interchange (EDI) and data processing services in selectedretail energy markets. ESG assists energy companies with data andtransaction processing required to service retail customer accountsin deregulated markets.

Altra Energy Technologies Inc., Amerex Power Ltd. and PrebonEnergy Inc. announced the successful launch of Altrade Power, areal-time, online electronic power trading system, provided byAltra Streamline LLC. The launch represents the firstbusiness-to-business e-commerce site to unite new online tradingexchange technology with the strength and reach of the traditionalvoice broker market. Altrade Power went live on Oct. 14. More than210 installed users, out of 450 traders who have already requestedthe system, logged on to complete more than $24 million inwholesale power trades. “With the help of our alliance, traderswill ultimately have instant access to over 700 counterparties atmore than 150 of the industry’s leading trading firms,” saidAltra’s Mark Crosno. “Following the price spikes of 1998 and 1999,the wholesale power market is demanding enhanced tools for moreefficient deal execution. Traders told us they need a single focalpoint for getting their deals done, yet they do not want to give upthe services provided by their voice brokers. Through our alliance,we have answered the market’s demands,” said Amerex’s CareyTurnbull.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is looking forvolunteers for a pilot project for electronic filing of documentsin Commission proceedings over the Internet beginning Oct. 1, 1999.The pilot will test FERC’s computer systems and be limited tomotions and notices to intervene, protests, comments and relatedfilings. Participants must still file paper copies during thetesting period.

Energy consulting company Skipping Stone Inc. is adding acommunications systems notch to its bow with the acquisition ofTransCapacity Inc., an established provider of software and systemsto automate pipeline transportation.

TransCanada yesterday was continuing to evaluate an electronicfailure on its 36-inch Western Alberta System. A tool used duringan in-line inspection run failed. Arrival of a de-watering pig atthe Knight compressor station has been delayed until about noonmountain time today. Work on the system between the Miekle Riverand Knight compressor station in northwestern Alberta began May 31,impacting receipt capacity by about 1 Bcf/d. The system should beup to regular flows again some time by Saturday, a spokesman said.The outage had been scheduled to end June 9.