Fights

Saying a takeover of Northeast Utilities (NU) by ConEdison wouldhurt the state’s consumers and economy, Connecticut AttorneyGeneral Richard Blumenthal recently filed statements at theConnecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) opposingthe merger. The DPUC is expected to issue its final decision on themerger in May.

Saying a takeover of Northeast Utilities (NU) by ConEdison wouldhurt the state’s consumers and economy, Connecticut AttorneyGeneral Richard Blumenthal recently filed statements at theConnecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) opposingthe merger. The DPUC is expected to issue its final decision on themerger in May.

In a classic states’ rights confrontation, California ischallenging FERC jurisdiction over the operation of the state’s twononprofit organizations created to make electric restructuring runsmoothly, the Independent System Operator (ISO) overseeing thetransmission grid and the Power Exchange (PX) providing a wholesalespot electricity market. Two bills have been proposed in the statelegislature to change the status of the ISO and PX in directresponse to FERC jurisdictional questions.

While it fights with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC)over an order dictating the upstream unbundling of its system,Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) is arguing with the City of Norman, OK,to retain rights to distribute gas there. ONG’s 25-year franchiseagreement with Norman expires Nov. 15, and so far the two partieshave yet to come to terms on an extension. The city wants afranchise agreement with ONG just like its last one, including aprovision allowing the city the opportunity to buy the distributionsystem from ONG every five years. ONG, however, wants to do awaywith the buyout provision this time around. ONG spokesman DonSherry said the city’s interest in owning the system stems, inpart, from a desire to beef up city coffers. “Our feeling about itis that their interest in a forced acquisition of the system isprincipally one of revenue. We have significant questions as towhether they could operate the system any more efficiently than wecould.”

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will go from being “awatchdog to a lapdog,” Commissioner John Hanger commented followingthe announcement the governor had chosen a staunch supporter ofPeco Energy, Chester, PA Mayor Aaron Wilson Jr. to replace Hanger.