Heat

Capitol Hill investigators are turning the heat up on former Enron Chairman Kenneth L. Lay, attempting to get him to appear before their committees to explain the Enron meltdown in what is fast becoming an election year political circus.

Cinergy Corp. said customers of its affiliates, Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co. and the Union Light, Heat and Power Co., will see significant reductions in natural gas prices for the winter period, compared with last year under filings made by the companies with state regulatory agencies in Ohio and Kentucky. The company claimed that customers of CG&E in Ohio can expect natural gas prices to be 30% below the winter period a year ago, while ULH&P customers in Kentucky will experience a reduction of 18% from last year.

According to Cinergy Corp., customers of its Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co. and the Union Light, Heat and Power Co. affiliates will see significant reductions in natural gas prices for the winter period, compared with last year under filings made by the companies with state regulatory agencies in Ohio and Kentucky. The company claimed that customers of CG&E in Ohio can expect natural gas prices to be 30% below the winter period a year ago, while ULH&P customers in Kentucky will experience a reduction of 18% from last year.

East Tennessee Natural Gas system’s proposed phased 510 MMcf/d extension and expansion project is coming under fire at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The East Tennessee Group (ETG), which represents the pipeline’s municipal distribution customers, said it was “extremely concerned” that the “massive expansion,” which would nearly double East Tennessee’s existing capacity, “would significantly degrade services to its members.” It called for the Commission to schedule a technical conference on the pipeline’s application for its Patriot project.

East Tennessee Natural Gas system’s proposed phased 510 MMcf/d extension and expansion project is coming under fire at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Peak power demand and summer gas use records fell during the week ending Aug. 12 in New York City as heat pushed temperatures well above 90 degrees, Consolidated Edison reported. Con Edison broke a weekly power demand record when 1,567,147 MWh of electricity were used by its 3.1 million customers from Monday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Aug. 12. The week also included the highest-ever hourly peak demand, 12,207 MW, reached at 3 p.m. Thursday. The Con Edison system delivers energy to an estimated 8.9 million New York City and Westchester County residents.

Peak power demand and summer gas use records fell last week in New York City as heat pushed temperatures well above 90 degrees, Consolidated Edison reported. Con Edison broke a weekly power demand record when 1,567,147 MWh of electricity were used by its 3.1 million customers from last Monday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Aug. 12. The week also included the highest-ever hourly peak demand, 12,207 MW, reached at 3 p.m. Thursday. The Con Edison system delivers energy to an estimated 8.9 million New York City and Westchester County residents.

Controversy, fueled by increasing political tensions, heated up last week about a group of private sector consultants brought on the state payroll by Gov. Gray Davis in the past six months to help California wrestle with its electricity problems, including the state’s role in buying bulk wholesale power.

Bolstered by the return of hotter weather to some regions and a screen gain of nearly a dime, nearly all points ranged from flat to about a nickel higher Tuesday. A PG&E citygate gain of slightly more than 15 cents, coupled with declines of about a dime at Malin and about 25 cents at Southern Border into PG&E, were the primary exceptions to mild firmness.