Judge

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), in a recent letter to FERC Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis L. Wagner, argued that any refund policy adopted by the Commission must not disadvantage utilities in the Pacific Northwest because of the contractual mechanisms that they have used to acquire power to serve their customers. She also asserted that Northwest entities that have been hurt by California’s energy crisis should be eligible for refunds.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), in a recent letter to FERC Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis L. Wagner, argued that any refund policy adopted by the Commission must not disadvantage utilities in the Pacific Northwest because of the contractual mechanisms that they have used to acquire power to serve their customers. She also asserted that Northwest entities that have been hurt by California’s energy crisis should be eligible for refunds.

FERC Administrative Law Judge Curtis L. Wagner asked parties involved in a settlement conference, which resulting from this week’s FERC order extending its power market mitigation program, to provide information to his office on a number of subjects, including a list of forward contracts, as early as today. Daily GPI June 19

On orders from a state Superior Court judge, California officials Friday made public the 38 long-term electricity contracts it has signed this year with 18 suppliers and marketers. Along with the impact of conservation and favorable weather of late, the state’s long-term contracts have cut its average cost of spot market power from $275/MWh in February to $121/MWh this month.

On orders from a state Superior Court judge, California officials Friday made public the 38 long-term electricity contracts it has signed this year with 18 suppliers and marketers. Along with the impact of conservation and favorable weather of late, the state’s long-term contracts have cut its average cost of spot market power from $275/MWh in February to $121/MWh this month.

El Paso Natural Gas is trying to head off an attempt by Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis L. Wagner Jr. to expand the scope of a four-week-old FERC hearing — which has been limited to market-power issues so far — to include the previously-litigated allegations that the pipeline rigged bidding for transportation capacity on its system to favor its merchant-power affiliates.

U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn O. Silver issued an order last week dismissing federal and Arizona Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) allegations made by Southern Union Co. against Southwest Gas Corp. The court also dismissed federal and state RICO allegations that Southern Union brought against Southwest’s Chairman Thomas Hartley, CEO Michael Maffie and Edward Zub, executive vice president/consumer resources and energy services.

U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn O. Silver issued an order last week dismissing federal and Arizona Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) allegations made by Southern Union Co. against Southwest Gas Corp. The court also dismissed federal and state RICO allegations that Southern Union brought against Southwest’s Chairman Thomas Hartley, CEO Michael Maffie and Edward Zub, executive vice president/consumer resources and energy services.

FERC Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis L. Wagner Jr. denied Sempra Energy’s bid to quash a Commission subpoena that orders it to turn over information relevant to a hearing into possible manipulation of natural gas prices in the California market. He also ordered three Enron companies to respond to subpoenas in the case.