The Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) granted AGL Resources a limited stay of an April 29 order to freeze subsidiary Atlanta Gas Light Co.’s residential rates (see Daily GPI, April 29). Officials at AGL were stunned last week by the 3-2 vote at GPSC, which AGL said would cut its annual utility revenues by about $25 million.
Georgia
Articles from Georgia
Terrible Ivan Draws Market’s Attention; Cash Prices Move Up 10-20 Cents
As Frances was breaking apart over Georgia and the Carolinas Tuesday, all eyes in the gas market quickly turned to Hurricane Ivan, which the National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated may take a track similar to, but more westerly than, recent Hurricane Charley into the eastern Gulf of Mexico, possibly disrupting gas and oil production.
Industry Briefs
The Georgia Public Service Commission unanimously approved a stipulation Tuesday to resolve issues with natural gas marketer Energy America LLC regarding improper disconnections of customers’ natural gas service (see Daily GPI, Jan. 6). The disconnections resulted from the company’s failure to properly credit payments from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to at least 54 customers’ accounts. The terms of the stipulation require the company to pay $54,000 into the state administered LIHEAP fund and to pay a $125 credit to each customer who was wrongly disconnected. In addition, the company must also pay each customer $5 for each day they were disconnected. The total amount of these payments is $60,750. However, if the commission identifies additional Energy America customers who were disconnected in error, the stipulation requires the company to make an additional $1,000 payment to LIHEAP for each additional customer.
Industry Brief
The Georgia Public Service Commission approved a consent agreement to resolve issues stemming from a June 23 gas pipeline accident near Perry Boulevard in northwestern Atlanta. A third-party excavator ruptured a 24-inch steel high-pressure gas pipeline owned by Atlanta Gas Light. The commission’s investigation found that gas continued to flow for more than four hours from the ruptured pipeline before the company was able to close the valves. The stipulation requires AGL to pay the state $30,000 and to absorb the cost of the gas lost during the incident, estimated at $17,252. In addition, the company must provide within 45 days a revised Emergency Manual that complies with all state and federal safety regulations. Within 60 days after the PSC staff approves the new manual, the company must ensure that all supervisors, service center managers and distribution center foreman are trained in emergency procedures.
Industry Briefs
Georgia Natural Gas is offering a special fixed rate of 74.9 cents per therm for retail customers signing up for its 12-Month Fixed Rate Plan during October. In addition, GNG’s variable market price for October is 74.9 cents per therm, a 9% decrease from a month ago and the lowest market price currently available, the company said. GNG said lower wholesale prices in response to rising storage inventories allowed the company to offer lower fixed rates.
Industry Briefs
A Canadian environmental review panel approved the proposed Georgia Strait Crossing natural gas pipeline in British Columbia, BC Hydro said on Wednesday. The National Energy Board panel’s ruling will be submitted to federal Environment Minister David Anderson. It is a significant regulatory step forward for the project, which extends from Sumas, Washington, to Vancouver Island. The 85-mile pipeline is a joint proposal of BC Hydro and Williams.
Industry Briefs
NewPower Holdings Inc. said Judge W. Homer Drake Jr. of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Newnan Division, has confirmed its Chapter 11 plan as it applies to subsidiary The New Power Company, and the company expects the court to issue its order in the next several days. Ten days following the order, NewPower will begin paying the allowed pre-petition claims of its creditors. Creditors will receive distributions totaling $8.1 million, representing payment in full of allowed claims plus interest from June 11, 2002, the date the company and its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11. NewPower will transfer any cash remaining after such payment to TNPC Holdings, Inc. in satisfaction of all intercompany debt outstanding between them.
Industry Briefs
NewPower Holdings Inc. said Judge W. Homer Drake Jr. of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Newnan Division, has confirmed its Chapter 11 plan as it applies to subsidiary The New Power Company, and the company expects the court to issue its order in the next several days. Ten days following the order, NewPower will begin paying the allowed pre-petition claims of its creditors. Creditors will receive distributions totaling $8.1 million, representing payment in full of allowed claims plus interest from June 11, 2002, the date the company and its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11. NewPower will transfer any cash remaining after such payment to TNPC Holdings, Inc. in satisfaction of all intercompany debt outstanding between them.
Chevron, BG Plan Trinidad LNG Shipments to Elba Island
ChevronTexaco and partner BG will be delivering 80 MMcf/d of gas from Trinidad to Southern LNG’s Elba Island re-gasification terminal in Georgia beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2023. The producers received approval from the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries for development of Dolphin Deep and Starfish fields offshore Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The fields will supply a long term liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract with El Paso Merchant Energy to import LNG into the U.S. market.
Chevron, BG Plan Trinidad LNG Shipments to Elba Island
ChevronTexaco and partner BG will be delivering 80 MMcf/d of gas from Trinidad to Southern LNG’s Elba Island re-gasification terminal in Georgia beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2023. The producers received approval from the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries for development of Dolphin Deep and Starfish fields offshore Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The fields will supply a long term liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract with El Paso Merchant Energy to import LNG into the U.S. market.