Establishes

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill into law (SB 5769) last Friday that establishes the phased closing of the state’s major coal-fired electric generation plant and the development of a smaller, cleaner natural gas-fired plant in the interim. Executives from power plant operator TransAlta Corp. and the environmental and labor sectors joined Gregoire at the signing ceremony.

FERC Thursday approved a contested settlement that establishes a cricondentherm hydrocarbon dewpoint (CHDP) safe harbor level of 15 degrees Fahrenheit on Tennessee Gas Pipeline to prevent operational problems that are caused by hydrocarbon liquids fallout.

FERC Thursday approved a contested settlement that establishes a cricondentherm hydrocarbon dewpoint (CHDP) safe harbor level of 15 degrees Fahrenheit on Tennessee Gas Pipeline to prevent operational problems that are caused by hydrocarbon liquids fallout.

Noting that since the energy crisis that electricity programs have sprinted ahead relative to gas, the California Public Utilities Commission Thursday increased funding by 20% this winter for natural gas energy efficiency programs by the state’s three major private-sector gas utilities as a means of helping the gas programs catch up. The added funding is projected to save 8.7 million therms, or a 40% boost in energy savings.

Noting that since the energy crisis that electricity programs have sprinted ahead relative to gas, the California Public Utilities Commission Thursday increased funding by 20% this winter for natural gas energy efficiency programs by the state’s three major private-sector gas utilities as a means of helping the gas programs catch up. The added funding is projected to save 8.7 million therms, or a 40% boost in energy savings.

Newfield Exploration Co. has established a new Rocky Mountain focus with the completion of its $574 million acquisition of Inland Resources, a privately held Denver-based producer. The transaction gives Newfield an internally estimated 326 Bcfe of proved reserves and 439 Bcfe of probable reserves.

Seeking to stay ahead of eventual settlement developments in a state Superior Court in San Diego and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, California’s state regulatory commission Thursday established a statewide regulatory proceeding to outline how to return in excess of $1 billion to private-sector natural gas and electric utility customers. The funds are what El Paso Natural Gas Corp. agreed to pay in a settlement resulting from various court and regulatory actions aimed at its alleged manipulation of wholesale gas prices at the California-Arizona border in 2000-2001.

Seeking to stay ahead of eventual settlement developments in a state Superior Court in San Diego and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, California’s state regulatory commission Thursday established a statewide regulatory proceeding to outline how to return in excess of $1 billion to private-sector natural gas and electric utility customers. The funds are what El Paso Natural Gas Corp. agreed to pay in a settlement resulting from various court and regulatory actions aimed at its alleged manipulation of wholesale gas prices at the California-Arizona border in 2000-2001.

Among a growing minority of healthy major energy sector players, San Diego-based Sempra Energy received a positive response from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service last Wednesday that it has established an equity fund unit to seek partners in buying presumably bargain-priced energy assets.