Ironic

In what some shippers see as ironic given the sorry status of the pipeline’s own credit rating, PG&E Gas Transmission Northwest’s (GTN) existing collateral demands on credit-risky customers have raised skepticism from federal regulators and shippers alike in recent weeks. The proposed tougher-than-federally-required credit standards for the pipeline’s shippers have been put on hold by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which wants to hold a technical conference on the issue.

In an ironic twist, the same Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) administrative law judge (ALJ) who had cited Oneok for contempt in May for refusing to turn over documents related to an OCC investigation last Wednesday granted the company’s motion for a stay in the state attorney general’s request that the company be cited for contempt for not turning over the same documents related to natural gas sales made last winter.

In an ironic twist, the same Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) administrative law judge (ALJ) who had cited Oneok for contempt in May for refusing to turn over documents related to an OCC investigation on Wednesday granted the company’s motion for a stay in the state attorney general’s request that the company be cited for contempt for not turning over the same documents related to natural gas sales made last winter.

In an ironic twist of fate, California lawmakers have succeeded in deterring construction of new generation at the same time they are trying to solve their state’s energy shortage. Mirant Corp. said on Friday it will delay construction on its approved 530 MW expansion at its Contra Costa power plant because of market uncertainty. The plant received its permit May 29.

It was ironic yesterday that the power grid operator in NewEngland, ISO New England, issued a power watch on the same day itassured the public it would have adequate power supplies thissummer. Remember, it’s only May.