Interstate

Although often on different sides of the fence at FERC and onCapitol Hill, major producers have rallied to defend interstate gaspipelines against allegations that painted them and other pipes asticking “time bombs.”

The Coastal Corp.’s Colorado Interstate Gas Co. (CIG) istargeting a new power plant and local demand growth with a lateralto deliver gas along Colorado’s Front Range. The line would serve aplanned 478 MW power plant south of Colorado Springs.

The Coastal Corp.’s Colorado Interstate Gas Co. (CIG) hasplotted a route for a lateral that will deliver gas to a planned478 MW power plant south of Colorado Springs, CO, as well asprovide for growth in gas demand along Colorado’s Front Range.

Midcoast Interstate Transmission and two groups oflandowners-environmentalists last week lost their year-long battlein court to overturn the FERC orders awarding a certificate toSouthern Natural Gas to build and operate a competing pipelineextension into northern Alabama.

Midcoast Interstate Transmission and two groups oflandowners/environmentalists have lost their year-long battle incourt to overturn FERC orders awarding a certificate to SouthernNatural Gas to build and operate an extension into northernAlabama.

The new millenium saw the loss of two major energy companies bythree national energy trade associations, the Interstate NaturalGas Association of America (INGAA), the American Gas Association(AGA), the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), while a fourth, theNatural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), says it is poised for acomeback.

If there were any market bears at the 55th annual meeting of theInterstate Natural Gas Association of America, they must have beenscared into the closet by Curt Launer, vice president of theresearch department at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and TomasA. Petrie, CEO of Petrie Parkman. Petrie sees $30/bbl oil and$3/Mcf or higher natural gas in the near future.

A Williams Gas Pipeline executive last week departed from theinterstate pipeline industry’s general support for straight-fixedvariable (SFV) rate design, suggesting instead a move to avolumetric design. He believes such a rate design will be essentialfor gas pipelines to meet the needs of power generators, and forthe industry as a whole to reach its goal of a 30 Tcf market

An executive with Conoco Inc. last week accused interstatepipelines of intentionally burying information that customers needto determine whether pipes are exceeding their authorized rates ofreturn (RORs), which he strongly suspects is the case.