Francisco

In a sweeping decision Wednesday, a federal judge in San Francisco reinstated Clinton-era protections for nearly 60 million acres of national forest lands. The ruling voided the Bush administration’s petition process for potentially opening vast areas of remote national forest lands to road building, a necessary prerequisite for energy development and other commercial activities.

FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher said Tuesday the federal regulatory panel agrees with the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco regarding its action last Friday to set a settlement conference on the California energy refund proceeding appeals cases. Consolidated appeals petitions will be included in the Sept. 6 conference, continuing the next day if necessary, the court said.

Riding a $17.4 billion utility rate base, San Francisco-based PG&E Corp.’s transformation and investment plans are “on track” to generate average annual earnings-per-share growth of 7.5% over the next five years, according to PG&E’s CEO and CFO, who held a conference call for financial analysts Wednesday announcing flat first quarter results. A major 2007 general rate case and several emerging industry issues will have important impacts on the company’s ability to realize the growth now envisioned, the senior officials said.

As his statewide summit on global climate change was getting under way in San Francisco Tuesday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released the copy of a letter the governor sent to President George W. Bush Monday requesting that California be given a waiver from federal preemption of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards. Schwarzenegger was following up on a request his Resources Agency made last December.

With wholesale natural gas prices trending only one way in the wake of the two Gulf of Mexico hurricanes, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. in San Francisco has established a monthly “Natural Gas Watch” bulletin, and its latest issue Friday cited average retail gas utility bills for its customers in October being up by $17.45/month, compared with October last year. That represents an increase of 70.8%, according to the combination utility.

As previewed earlier in the month, San Francisco-based PG&E Corp. reported decreased earnings for its utility and excluded any results from its former merchant energy unit that is now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The lack of resolution in Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s 2003 general rate case was the principal reason for the utility results being decreased compared to similar periods in 2002. The company still expects a rate decision that reflects a settlement that is before state regulators.

As previewed earlier in the month, San Francisco-based PG&E Corp. reported decreased earnings for its utility and excluded any results from its former merchant energy unit that is now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The lack of resolution in Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s 2003 general rate case was the principal reason for the utility results being decreased compared to similar periods in 2002. The company still expects a rate decision that reflects a settlement that is before state regulators.

San Francisco-based PG&E Corp. Wednesday reported third-quarter earnings of $510 million, or $1.24/share, compared with $466 million, or $1.19/share for the same period last year. Operating earnings from its bankrupt utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., were down, but with various qualifiers.

San Francisco-based PG&E Corp. Wednesday reported third-quarter earnings of $510 million, or $1.24/share, compared with $466 million, or $1.19/share for the same period last year. Operating earnings from its bankrupt utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., were down, but with various qualifiers. Its bankrupt merchant operations’ results were not included.