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Alliance Pipeline said yesterday it will accept the terms of thecertificate order handed down by FERC last week and, pendingCanadian regulatory approval, plans to begin construction on its1,900-mile pipeline system next May with service by 4Q2000.

For the last several weeks the futures market has been a modelof volatility where one day’s gains were the next day’s losses.However, the market couldn’t make up its mind yesterday and afterabruptly spiking higher in the morning, ran into overheadresistance and subsequent selling that forced the market lower inthe afternoon. The October contract settled nearly unchanged forthe day at $2.186.

While the congressional session enters its last month, Sens.Mike Enzi (R-WY), Craig Thomas (R-WY), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) andRep. Barbara Cubin (R-WY) have made a late attempt to aid coalbedmethane producers and royalty owners whose leases have been throwninto “legal limbo” by a recent appellate court decision.Legislation introduced in both Houses of Congress would grandfatherany coalbed methane lease agreements in operation at the timelegislation is passed from the effects of the court ruling.

FERC last week proposed changes that would lead in certaininstances to a less restrictive policy for off-the-recordcommunications between the agency and those outside of it,particularly with respect to staff communications while conductingenvironmental investigations.

FERC last week gave the green light for ANR Pipeline to moveahead with construction of its Wisconsin Loop Expansion Project,which would provide about 116 MMcf/d of additional capacity toLDCs, marketers and power generators in the state. This puts ANRout in front of competing projects that also intend to vie for themarket.

FERC last week gave the green light for ANR Pipeline to moveahead with construction of its Wisconsin Loop Expansion Project,which would provide about 116 MMcf/d of additional capacity toLDCs, marketers and power generators in the state. This puts ANRout in front of competing projects that also intend to vie for themarket.

FERC last week put off a final ruling on the troubled merger ofAllegheny Energy and DQE Inc., parent of Duquesne Light, until thepartners decide how they want to resolve some serious competitiveconcerns. The Commission gave them the option of divesting DQE’s570-MW Cheswick Generating Station or proceeding to hearing ontheir own mitigation measures, which include relinquishing controlof the Cheswick output on a short-term basis and joining theMidwest independent system operator (ISO).

FERC last week conditionally approved the formation of the12-member Midwest independent system operator (ISO), but somecommissioners expressed disappointment that moretransmission-owning utilities from the region hadn’t joined yet.

FERC last week conditionally approved the formation of the12-member Midwest independent system operator (ISO), but somecommissioners expressed disappointment that moretransmission-owning utilities from the region hadn’t joined yet.