Looks

As early as today an announcement may be forthcoming that downtown Houston rival Dynegy Corp. may ride to the rescue of Enron Corp. in either a merger or a $2 billion cash infusion through its 27% shareholder ChevronTexaco. Several sources, including the The Wall Street Journal, report that the companies’ directors were in talks to work out a deal to revive Enron — still responsible for 25% of the energy trades made around the world. Neither Dynegy nor Enron would comment.

Calgary-based Petro-Canada, which already is one of the largest oil refiners in Canada, plans to move toward the western part of the country and into Alaska as it establishes a broader base for its natural gas growth. CFO Harry Roberts told analysts at the Merrill Lynch Global Energy Conference Wednesday that the company has “excellent” prospects for its upstream business.

The nation’s largest municipal utility, and one of the public sector bulk power suppliers that has made some money supplying power to the rest of California recently, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is reassessing its natural gas strategy for its fleet of in-state power plants in and around the LA Basin.

Mexico’s natural gas market will grow at an annual rate of 9%over the next decade, and electricity demand will grow about 6% ayear – nearly triple the U.S. demand in many areas. But the countryis far from ready to meet its soaring energy needs, and while ithas to improve its basic service, it also wants more privateinvestment.

Mexico’s natural gas market will grow at an annual rate of 9%over the next decade, and electricity demand will grow about 6% ayear — nearly triple the U.S. demand in many areas. But thecountry is far from ready to meet its soaring energy needs, andwhile it has to improve its basic service, it also wants moreprivate investment.

TransCanada PipeLines has set an open season through tomorrowfor one-year firm maximum rate capacity for 750,000 gigajoules aday from Empress to several points on its system. Bids will beaccepted for FT contracts to commence anytime between Nov. 1, 2000and March 30, 2001. The FT space is available to the Saskatchewan,Manitoba or Emerson zones, or there is 300,000 gj/d available tothe Eastern Zone (SWDA). TransCanada is not considering annualshort haul transportation in the current posting, but may do so ina future posting. Also, if long haul FT offers are made aftertomorrow’s deadline, the pipeline may initiate a new open season.TransCanada currently is not authorized to offer discounted FT, but”we’re always available to sell capacity.” Contact Keith Nelson at403-267-1691 or keith_nelson@transcanada.com for information.

There was no shortage of hand-wringing and news mediaannouncements in the West in the wake of recent electricity pricespikes and multi-million-dollar estimated consequences fromCalifornia’s relatively modest round of rolling brownouts aroundthe San Francisco Bay Area. The big question — particular inCalifornia — is whether new solutions will come from regulators,lawmakers or the market.

It looks as though Millennium Pipeline’s long wait for a FERC ruling is going to last a little longer. Instead of getting a speedy Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), the pipeline must wait until FERC can examine its proposed route change in New York, Daniel M. Adamson, director of the Office of Energy Projects, told project sponsors.

It looks like Millennium Pipeline’s long wait for a FERC rulingis going to last a little longer. FERC’s Daniel M. Adamson,director of the Office of Energy Projects, turned down a request byMillennium sponsors to exclude from its Final Environmental ImpactStatement an assessment of a proposed route change in WestchesterCounty, NY. Millennium was seeking a speedy FEIS but now will haveto wait until the Commission reviews its route change.