Getting

Belatedly, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is getting inits two-cents-worth in the state’s remaining natural gas settlementtalks focused on Southern California Gas Co. which resumed Tuesdayin Los Angeles. A regulatory proceeding earlier in the monthbroadened the scope of the talks at the same time concludingsimilar negotiations centered on Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’snatural gas system in the northern half of the state.

Potomac Electric Power Co.’s (Pepco) strategy of getting out ofpower generation, focusing on its wires and distribution businessesand emphasizing its non-regulated side is in full swing, says theutility’s top executive.

Potomac Electric Power Co.’s (Pepco) strategy of getting out ofpower generation, focusing on its wires and distribution businessesand emphasizing its non-regulated side is in full swing, says theutility’s top executive.

Oklahoma Corporation Commission Chairman Bob Anthony stillbelieves his state’s ratepayers are getting the short end of thestick in a 10-year supply contract that Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG)originally made with now-bankrupt Dynamic Energy Resources. That1993 contract was divided and transferred to two other suppliersnow serving the utility under the original terms.

Oklahoma Corporation Commission Chairman Bob Anthony still isnot satisfied that his state’s ratepayers are not getting the shortend of the stick in a 10-year supply contract between OklahomaNatural Gas (ONG) and Dynamic Energy Resources. In a press releaseissued earlier this week, Anthony charges under the contract ONG ispaying 50% more than it should be for some of its gas supply andpassing the cost on to consumers.

Although getting 13 parties to agree on how to solve the naggingproblem of imbalances, a new Pacific Gas and Electric Co.settlement agreement on its transmission and storage operations isjust the first of a number of changes that are anticipated underCalifornia’s ongoing gas industry restructuring program. Even forthis step, state regulators still must react to the agreement andthen market participants must assess whether the provisions willresult in the market efficiencies and cost-savings that shippersare anticipating.

Markets in Atlantic Canada and New England won’t be getting anextra gas supply source as soon as previously expected. Maritimes& Northeast Pipeline LLC informed FERC this week that both530/360 MMcf/d Canadian/US pipeline project (Phase II) and theSable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP), which will be the source ofsupply for the pipeline, will not be in service on schedule.

For both regulators and legislators, California is awash in”unfinished business” in terms of getting its pioneering electricpower restructuring effort to result in robust competition, lowerprices and more significant choices for mass retail consumers,according to a variety of speakers at a two-day conferenceexamining the state’s 18-month-old experiment.

Markets in Atlantic Canada and New England won’t be getting anextra gas supply source as soon as previously expected. Maritimes& Northeast Pipeline LLC informed FERC this week that both530/360 MMcf/d Canadian/US pipeline project (Phase II) and theSable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP), which will be the source ofsupply for the pipeline, will not be in service on schedule.