Limits

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has raised the annual dollar limit for projects that natural gas pipelines with blanket construction certificates can proceed with on their own without having to win agency clearance first.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has modestly hiked the annual dollar limit for projects that natural gas pipelines with blanket construction certificates can proceed with on their own without having to win agency clearance first.

Mirroring an earlier complaint brought against Trunkline Pipeline, a group of natural gas producers and marketers called on FERC last week to order El Paso’s Tennessee Pipeline and Columbia Gulf Transmission to “discontinue immediately” their alleged practice of using multi-year “critical notices” to enforce tougher quality specifications on the gas that they will accept into their systems.

Mirroring a recent complaint brought against Trunkline Pipeline, a group of natural gas producers and marketers called on FERC Wednesday to order El Paso’s Tennessee Pipeline to “discontinue immediately” its alleged practice of using multi-year “critical notices” to enforce tougher quality specifications on the gas that it will accept into its system.

In a case that tests the limits of how far California went in establishing third-party, non-utility natural gas storage, two of the state’s energy heavyweights — Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Calpine Corp. — are going toe-to-toe over allegations that Calpine has “colluded” with a third-party storage operator, Lodi Gas Storage. PG&E’s utility wants state regulators to come down hard on both the merchant operators.

Available natural gas capacity in the Lower 48 states this year appears “sufficient” to meet the level of demand, but the relatively narrow margin of surplus capacity may be limited if there are “sudden” increases or drops in either production or demand, thus setting up the potential for short-term price hikes, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Available natural gas capacity in the Lower 48 states this year appears “sufficient” to meet the level of demand, but the relatively narrow margin of surplus capacity may be limited if there are “sudden” increases or drops in either production or demand, thus setting up the potential for short-term price hikes, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Only summary data for energy trades during 2001 has to be turned over to the defense team of an indicted former energy trader, a Houston judge ruled Tuesday. However, while the scope of a subpoena was limited, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas said she may expand the information request in the future.

Only summary data for energy trades during 2001 has to be turned over to the defense team of an indicted former energy trader, a Houston judge ruled Tuesday. However, while the scope of a subpoena was limited, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas said she may expand the information request in the future.