Five

FERC intends to pursue several strategies over the next fiveyears to facilitate gas pipeline development and “get gas whereit’s needed most,” the Commission said in a draft strategic planfor fiscal years 2000-2005. One of its most important objectives isto “foster a regulatory environment that facilitates theresponsible development of transportation capacity to meetpotential increase in market demand for natural gas to 25 Tcf in2005 and 30 Tcf in 2010,” the draft stated.

In an unprecedented special session Monday, the five-memberCalifornia Public Utilities Commission provided added retailelectricity rate relief for San Diego consumers who are stillreeling from this summer’s rate shock.

Swing quotes for the first five days of July saw little changefrom end-of-June numbers in most cases and were stronger at somepoints. However, the July aftermarket did begin at levels downconsiderably from indexes.

Under a five-year tolling agreement announced last week withHouston-based Engage Energy, Southern Company Energy Marketing hasagreed to convert natural gas supplied by Engage into 300 MW ofelectricity. The agreement allows Engage to sell the electricityfollowing its conversion, which will be done at a power plantcurrently under construction in Zeeland, MI. The plant, beingconstructed by Southern Company Energy Marketing’s parent, SouthernEnergy, is expected to begin operations by mid-2001.

Under a five-year tolling agreement with Houston-based EngageEnergy, Southern Company Energy Marketing has agreed to convertnatural gas supplied by Engage into 300 MW of electricity. Theagreement allows Engage to sell the electricity following itsconversion, which will be done at a power plant currently underconstruction in Zeeland, MI. The plant, being constructed bySouthern Company Energy Marketing’s parent, Southern Energy, isexpected to begin operations by mid-2001.

TXU Energy Services has won a five-year $500 million deal toprovide energy services to 85 of Crescent Real Estate commercialoffices nationwide. Cresent is one of the country’s largest realestate investment trusts.

BP Amoco for a third time in five years has won the annualbidding for California’s natural gas purchasing program. supplyingabout 120 facilities operated by the California General ServicesDepartment.

Seven key electric utilities and marketers proposed five”consensus recommendations” aimed at helping the House CommerceCommittee move comprehensive restructuring legislation forwardduring this Congress.

BP Amoco for a third time in five years has won the annualbidding for California’s natural gas purchasing program for about120 state operated facilities, it was announced Thursday by thestate top purchasing agency, the California General ServicesDepartment, Sacramento, CA.