Extend

FERC’s widely-anticipated move last week to extend price controls on bulk electricity transactions to the entire Western region around the clock blew through Washington with hurricane force, shifting the political winds away from price caps in the Senate. However, just as the volatile issue of price caps began to subside somewhat on Capitol Hill, a new debate emerged in Congress over whether the agency should be more aggressive in ordering generators to provide refunds for overcharges that California Gov. Gray Davis said run into the billions of dollars.

Southern California Gas did not extend an Overnominations Day notice beyond Friday, but Pacific Gas & Electric declared another systemwide Stage 3 high-inventory OFO for Saturday. The OFO carries penalties of $5/Dth for positive imbalances exceeding a 6% tolerance.

Pacific Gas & Electric did not extend a high-linepack OFO with zero tolerance for positive imbalances beyond Saturday.

Saying linepack and operating conditions had improved, Florida Gas Transmission did not extend an Underage Alert Day notice beyond Tuesday.

NW Natural submitted an application Friday to the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) for a 60-mile, 24-inch pipeline to link the company’s underground natural gas storage fields near Mist, OR to a Williams mainline near Molalla.

NW Natural submitted an application Friday to the Oregon EnergyFacility Siting Council (EFSC) for a 60-mile, 24-inch pipeline tolink the company’s underground natural gas storage fields nearMist, OR to a Williams mainline near Molalla.

Pacific Gas & Electric did not extend a systemwidelow-inventory OFO beyond Thursday. However, Northern Natural Gaskept a System Overrun Limitation for all market area zones in placeat least through Thursday.

Northern Natural Gas did not extend a System Overrun Limitationfor all market areas beyond Friday.

Energy Search Inc. has finalized an agreement with SouthernProducer Services LP, a subsidiary of Southern Energy Inc., toextend the funding of its capital expenditure program for 2001. Aspart of the agreement, Southern pre-approved 60 wells to be funded.Energy Search, based in Knoxville, TN, plans to drill 75 wells nextyear for about $11.5 million, primarily natural gas reserves in theAppalachian Basin. Energy Search CEO Charles P. Torrey said theagreement with Southern allows the company to “expand and expediteour aggressive drilling program.” He added that Southern had been”vital” to the company’s drilling schedule, and said he consideredSouthern’s commitment “a validation of our business developmentplan for the coming year.”