Investigates

While it investigates the results of just-completed pigging of its 42-inch diameter Expansion pipeline, Gulf South is limiting capacity in the Expansion Area 16, 17 and 18 Receipt Groups to 950,000 Dth/d until further notice. Gulf South also said it shut in four interconnects due to the work. TGT said the Gulf South restriction has the potential to impact its lease capacity on Gulf South at four locations.

Mark V. Rosenker last Tuesday was sworn in as the new chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency that investigates major transportation-related accidents, including pipeline mishaps.

Mark V. Rosenker on Tuesday was sworn in as the new chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency that investigates major transportation-related accidents, including pipeline mishaps.

FERC last week issued an order allowing Commonwealth Edison Co. (ComEd) to integrate with PJM Interconnection on May 1, but said that it was “extremely troubled” by recent disclosures that the utility’s parent company was scrambling to procure additional capacity for the bi-directional pathway with PJM. FERC has referred the matter to its division of enforcement for a preliminary investigation.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) last Thursday initiated an in-depth review of the financial condition of the state’s major public utilities in order to ensure that unregulated affiliate activities do not negatively affect the financial condition or service quality of the regulated utilities serving Ohio. Utilities based in Ohio include American Electric Power (AEP), FirstEnergy, Cinergy and DPL.

Illinois’ statewide nonprofit utility watchdog, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), on Wednesday filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Nicor Gas and an unregulated sister company, Nicor Services, of deceptively marketing its “Fixed Bill” plan, which the lawsuit claims has caused some of Illinois consumers’ natural gas bills to more than double. CUB first made the charges of deceptive practices against the Naperville, IL-based company in April (see Daily GPI, April 12).

Illinois’ statewide nonprofit utility watchdog, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), on Wednesday filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Nicor Gas and an unregulated sister company, Nicor Services, of deceptively marketing its “Fixed Bill” plan, which the lawsuit claims has caused some of Illinois consumers’ natural gas bills to more than double. CUB first made the charges of deceptive practices against the Naperville, IL-based company in April (see Daily GPI, April 12).

The antitrust division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) is probing allegations raised in a PJM Interconnection report that concludes that earlier this year a market participant exercised undue market power in PJM’s capacity credit markets, causing the price in those markets to spike higher than it would have otherwise been in a competitive market.

Oklahoma’s record winter heating costs last season were caused by inadequate planning by Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., and thus customers should get some of their money back, according to witnesses testifying last week before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC). The Commission is looking into charges that ONG did not adequately prepare for the last winter season, which caused rates to escalate.