Groups

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker held a three-way teleconferenceThursday with officials from three trade associations representingpipelines, major producers and independent producers to discussspiraling natural gas prices.

Several consumer groups last week took steps toward pushing forre-regulation nationally and in several states, denouncing effortsto deregulate the electricity industry as flawed.

Sonat notified shippers Saturday that nine groups on its SouthGeorgia system would be under an OFO Type 22 effective Monday untilfurther notice. Cold weather and projected demand on the systemwere cited as reasons for the OFO.

Natural gas is the common denominator that will “foster allreasonable wishes” of environmental groups and still support majorand sustained economic activity for the foreseeable future,according to a University of Houston economics professor who so farhas been on target in his predictions about energy.

Natural gas is the common denominator that will “foster allreasonable wishes” of environmental groups and still support majorand sustained economic activity for the foreseeable future,according to a University of Houston economics professor who so farhas been on target in his predictions about energy.

Salem, OR-based Sierra Pacific Resources, the Oregon Public Utility Commission, industrial customers and consumer groups reached a tentative settlement last week that allows Sierra Pacific to acquire Portland General Electric. The agreement calls for a six-year freeze on certain electricity prices and a $95 million credit price for PGE customers over the next seven years.

Accusing the state’s utilities of unlawfully billing customers,the Industrial Energy Users-Ohio and the Ohio ManufacturersAssociation went to court this week to prevent the Public UtilitiesCommission of Ohio from imposing extra charges for a low-incomecustomer assistance program.

Major trade groups for interstate natural gas pipelines andlocal distributors last week rallied to defend their membersagainst allegations that painted them and other energy deliverysystems as ticking “time bombs.”

Sonat ended Monday an OFO Type 3 that was implemented Jan. 21for seven market-area groups.