Group

The leaders of a major pipeline association and a key electricutility group jointly have expressed their support for FERC toconvene a conference “in the near future” to assess post-2000natural gas demand in the Northeast and the need for new pipelinecapacity to serve customers, particularly power generators, in thatmarket. Meanwhile, a new study sees no need for new capacity to theNortheast until 2004 (See related story this issue).

Enron Capital and Trade Resources currently is negotiating adeal with a Lincoln, NE-based nonprofit joint power agency to sellit wholesale bulk, multi-year gas supplies so the agency can inturn sell them at below-market prices to municipal utilities inCalifornia and other states. Brokered through the American PublicEnergy Agency (APEA), supplies would be paid for in advance atdiscounted prices using the APEA tax-exempt financing capability.

Enron Capital and Trade Resources currently is negotiating adeal with a Lincoln, NE-based nonprofit joint power agency to sellit wholesale bulk, multi-year gas supplies so the agency can inturn sell them at below-market prices to municipal utilities inCalifornia and other states. Brokered through the American PublicEnergy Agency (APEA), supplies would be paid-for in advance atdiscounted prices using the APEA tax-exempt financing capability.

The leaders of the a major pipeline association and a keyelectric utility group jointly have expressed their support forFERC to convene a conference “in the near future” to assesspost-2000 natural gas demand in the Northeast and the need for newpipeline capacity to serve customers, particularly powergenerators, in that market.

A strong performance by Columbia Energy Group’s transmission,distribution, and exploration and production operations last yearin spite of 17% warmer than normal weather and lower commodityprices was significantly tainted by several major blunders in itsenergy marketing operations.

When assessing the market of an acquisition target, allcustomers are not equal, Columbia Energy Group Chairman Oliver G.Richard told a merger and acquisition symposium this week.

When assessing the market of an acquisition target, allcustomers are not equal, Columbia Energy Group Chairman Oliver G.Richard told a merger and acquisition symposium this week.

The Tennessee Oil and Gas Association (TOGA), which representsoil and gas producers in the state, is gearing up to fight a groupof gas utility districts over the definition of what constitutes”retail distribution.”

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday it will resolve a civilcourt case between a group of oil companies, headed by BP AmocoProduction Co., and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe over rights androyalties to natural gas produced from coal in the San Juan Basin.The Supreme Court will hear arguments in April with a decision dueby the end of June.