ferc

In a decision siding with Sempra Energy, FERC Administrative LawJudge (ALJ) Herbert Grossman last week found that postage-stamprates on Kern River Gas Transmission are “unjust and unreasonable.”Instead, he ruled in favor of a distance-sensitive zonal ratedesign, which was proposed by Sempra.

In a decision siding with Sempra Energy, FERC Administrative LawJudge (ALJ) Herbert Grossman has found that postage-stamp rates onKern River Gas Transmission are “unjust and unreasonable.” Instead,he ruled in favor of a distance-sensitive zonal rate design, whichwas proposed by Sempra.

PG&E National Energy Group has called on FERC to rid El PasoMerchant Energy’s contract arrangement with affiliate El PasoNatural Gas of its right-of-first-refusal (ROFR) provisions, whichit claims will give the unregulated marketing affiliate “firstcall” over non-affiliates in bidding for the 1.2 Bcf/d of firmcapacity when its contracts expire in May.

Williams yesterday asked FERC for the green light to reactivateand expand its liquefied natural gas (LNG) import services at itsCove Point terminal in Lusby, MD to meet the growing demand on theEast Coast.

Koch Gateway Pipeline informed FERC this week that on Dec. 31 itwill change its name to “Gulf South” and convert from a corporationto a limited partnership under Section 266 of the Delawareconversion statute. Koch said the conversion would have no impacton ratepayers. “If, however, Gulf South admits individual partners,through either a private or pubic offering of limited partnershipinterests, it will make a limited Section 4 rate filing within 90days to address any rate impacts of that change,” Koch said in itsDec. 22 filing with the Commission.

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker held a teleconference lastThursday with officials from three trade associations representinginterstate pipelines, major producers and independent producers todiscuss spiraling natural gas prices.

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker held a three-way teleconferenceThursday with officials from three trade associations representingpipelines, major producers and independent producers to discussspiraling natural gas prices.

FERC last week gave a preliminary nod to Questar Pipeline’sapplication to build a 75.6-mile, 272,000 Dth/d pipeline looprunning from northeastern Utah to the north central part of thestate. The proposed facilities would transport to western marketsthe growing coal-seam natural gas production near Price, UT, andthe volumes delivered to Questar from Colorado Interstate Gas’sUinta Basin Lateral at Natural Buttes.

Williams’ Northwest Pipeline has filed a FERC application thatwould allow the company to expand upon a system that is alreadyclassified as one of the nation’s largest natural gas transporters.The filing would allow Northwest to build and operate a newnine-mile, 20-inch diameter lateral pipeline in Snohomish County,WA.