Formally

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline LLC last Wednesday formally withdrew its application at FERC to double the capacity of its transportation system in New England after the sole shipper to be served by the project, EnCana Corp., terminated its precedent agreement.

Plains Resources Inc. announced Monday that its board of directors has formally approved the previously announced tax-free spin-off of its oil and gas exploration and production business, Plains Exploration & Production Co. (PXP), and established Dec. 11 as the date on record for the spin-off.

Enron and subsidiary Enron Oil & Gas (EOG) set a plan inmotion Tuesday to formally part ways, as the two agreed on atransaction that would establish EOG as a widely held publiccompany that will be independent of Enron. Under the all-stockagreement, Enron will exchange 62.27 million of its 82.27 millionshares of EOG common stock for EOG’s China and India operations. Inconnection with the exchange, EOG will contribute $600 million incash to one of EOG’s India subsidiaries that will be transferred toEnron.

FERC has turned over to two House Energy and Commerce subcommittees and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee energy companies’ responses about their participation in Enron-style trading practices and round-trip, or “wash,” transactions, including the replies that sought confidential treatment by the Commission.

After nearly an eight-month wait, President Bush officially has nominated Joseph T. Kelliher to a five-year term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, putting to rest persistent reports that his nomination was in jeopardy. Kelliher will replace current Commissioner Linda K. Breathitt whose term expires June 30 of this year, a White House spokeswoman said.

With a competing reorganization plan by state regulators now formally filed in Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s year-old Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, it is clearer that the quickest, least-legally exhausting solution is a mediated settlement, and that may be the ultimate trump card if both sides are correct in their assessment of the insurmountable legal obstacles facing their opposing positions.

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) formally asked Attorney General John Ashcroft last week to assign a special prosecutor to investigate the scandal engulfing the bankrupt Enron Corp.

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) formally asked Attorney General John Ashcroft Tuesday to assign a special prosecutor to investigate the scandal engulfing the bankrupt Enron Corp.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. formally announced its expansion plans last week a few days after testifying at FERC about growth on its system and the need for additional transportation and storage capacity (see Daily GPI, May 29). The utility company is holding an open season in June and July for capacity on its in-state California transmission system. Complete open season packages will be available June 12 at www.pge.com/pipeline.