Encourage

The New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) has filed an energy conservation program with FERC that is designed to encourage reduced consumption of electricity during peak demand periods and help moderate price fluctuations in the wholesale electricity market. The program could reduce the daily energy requirement in the region by 300-600 MW and produce annual savings of $30 million.

The New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) has filed an energyconservation program with FERC that is designed to encouragereduced consumption of electricity during peak demand periods andhelp moderate price fluctuations in the wholesale electricitymarket. The program could reduce the daily energy requirement inthe region by 300-600 MW and produce annual savings of $30 million.

“Near-term electric generating capacity adequacy is expected tobe satisfactory in North America,” said Michehl Gent, president ofthe North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) inannouncing the release of NERC’s Reliability Assessment 2000-2009,a 77-page study of future growth in supply and demand as well asthe adequacy of the nation’s transmission infrastructure.

California regulators Thursday approved a series of rateadjustments for Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas andElectric Co. that help encourage future merchant natural gaspipeline and electric power plant projects as well as resulting ina $248 million gas utility net rate decrease. For SoCalGas thatequals $210 million in rate cuts, the bulk of the reduction ($158.9million) going to residential and small business customers.SDG&E’s gas rates drop a total of $37 million, $18 million ofwhich is for small, core customers.

California regulators last Thursday approved a series of rateadjustments for Southern California Gas and San Diego Gas andElectric that are designed to encourage future merchant natural gaspipeline and electric power plant projects, as well as result in a$248 million gas utility net rate decrease.

Commodity prices are up, and the financial performance of anumber of energy companies is on the rise. The question being askedthis week in Houston is why are Wall Streeters treating energycompany stocks like ugly stepchildren?

In an effort to encourage retail stock ownership and improveshare liquidity, the KN Energy board of directors announcedWednesday shareholders of record at the close of business Dec. 15will receive a three-for-two stock split and a 7.1% increase inquarterly dividends. The stock will be distributed and the increasewill be paid concurrently on Dec. 31.

The Pipeline Customer Coalition (PCC) said it plans to supportthe proposed complaint procedures that would encourage parties tovoluntarily use dispute-resolution measures to settle theircommercial differences up-front in an attempt to expedite theprocess at FERC.