Illinois

ANR said the critical outage along its Southwest Mainline just upstream of the New Windsor Compressor Station in Illinois remained in effect Tuesday. Investigation and analysis of Sunday night’s rupture (see Daily GPI, Feb. 4) continue. ANR does not expect the impacted facilities to become operational again until late this week. “Transportation service through this area will be evaluated and scheduled on a daily basis. Availability of secondary and interruptible transportation will depend on Firm Primary nominations,” the pipeline said.

Peoples Energy CEO Thomas M. Patrick said a review by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) of the utility’s purchasing practices last year “will show that the company conducted its business prudently and that none of our practices increased costs to customers.” He added that the case is on a typical procedural schedule that would bring it to conclusion early in 2003.

Responding to news accounts of a motion to compel that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) staff recently filed as part of an annual review of gas purchasing practices for fiscal year 2001, Peoples Energy CEO Thomas M. Patrick said that the review involving the utility Peoples Gas “will show that the company conducted its business prudently and that none of our practices increased costs to customers.” He added that the case is on a typical procedural schedule that would bring it to conclusion early in 2003.

A month after Nicor Gas’ filing to expand its Customer Selectchoice program to all of its customers was suspended by theIllinois Commerce Commission (ICC), it announced it has received anunanimous approval from the same governing body to continue itspilot program for 2001.

Constellation Power Source’s affiliate Holland Energy LLC, plansto commence construction next month on a 650 MW natural gas-firedgenerating facility to be located in Holland Township, IL. Thepower will be used to meet the needs of the wholesale power market.

Constellation Power Source’s affiliate Holland Energy LLC, plansto commence construction next month on a 650 MW natural gas-firedgenerating facility to be located in Holland Township, IL. Thepower will be used to meet the needs of the wholesale power market.

Nicor Gas said yesterday it has accepted the Illinois CommerceCommission’s (ICC) order for a performance-based rate (PBR) fornatural gas costs. Currently, the Naperville, IL-based distributorspends about $900 million a year to purchase gas, but the PBRprovides the financial incentive for it to buy gas at even lowerprices. Under the PBR formula, Nicor’s actual gas costs will becompared to a targeted benchmark that’s based on competitive marketprices. The difference between the actual gas costs and thebenchmark will be shared 50/50 between Nicor Gas and its customers.The PBR plan, which will go into effect Jan. 1, will not apply totransportation customers who purchase their own supplies from thirdparties.

Peoples Energy said it was “extremely disappointed” in orders byIllinois Commerce Commission (ICC) that would sharply reduce thegas rates the LDC and affiliate North Shore Gas could charge theircustomers under fixed-price plans filed last fall. The utilitiessaid they cannot accept the ICC rulings and informed the agencythat they will remain instead under their existing pricingstructure.

In its latest bid to add generation assets to its growingportfolio, Reliant Energy selected a 125-acre plot of land inMcHenry County, IL, last week as the site to develop a 500 MW,gas-fired power plant. The cost of the project was not disclosed. AReliant spokesperson said the company hopes to have the plant inservice by mid-2001.