Manage

It’s a huge understatement to say that Tuesday’s market was rather featureless. Try virtually non-existent instead, which was to be expected on Christmas Eve.

The Port of Houston Authority commissioners, who manage the public facilities along the Houston Ship Channel, have voted to appeal a January ruling by U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes who ruled that the Port, and not companies, should pay the cost of lowering pipelines to accommodate the deepening of the channel. At least 87 pipelines, containing chemicals, petroleum products and natural gas, may be involved at a cost of $1 million each.

The Port of Houston Authority commissioners, who manage the public facilities along the Houston Ship Channel, have voted to appeal a January ruling by U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes who ruled that the Port, and not companies, should pay the cost of lowering pipelines to accommodate the deepening of the channel. At least 87 pipelines, containing chemicals, petroleum products and natural gas, may be involved at a cost of $1 million each.

Reliant Energy said that ideas that can help you manage and reduce your energy costs are now available with the launch of two new Internet-based services. The free, online energy analysis tools give consumers and owners of small to medium-sized businesses a detailed energy report of their home or business and money-saving recommendations on ways to improve their energy efficiency. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on our new Web site. Waters Davis, president of Reliant Energy Retail Services, believes these tools support Reliant Energy’s efforts to help customers reduce their energy costs. “These online products are customer-focused. They are powerful new tools that can assist our customers in managing their energy usage. These Web-based services put potential energy savings in the hands of customers,” said Davis. He said the two online services are diagnostic tools for the home or business, identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency, then suggesting ways to help make these enhancements. The new web-based tool for residential customers is called “Reliant Energy Checkup” and can be accessed at http://www.reliant.com/energycheckup. Small to medium-sized businesses that use less than one megawatt of electricity can use the “Online Energy Advisor” at http://www.reliant.com/business/energyadvisor for a detailed energy analysis designed specifically with business customers in mind.

Chevron Corp. announced Tuesday it is using a new system to manage its energy usage more effectively and monitor greenhouse gas emissions from all of its worldwide operations. Chevron Energy and Greenhouse Gas Inventory System (CEGIS) is an automated, electronic data management information system that is designed to gather monthly energy and greenhouse gas emissions data from Chevron’s worldwide exploration and production, refining and marketing, petrochemicals, transportation and coal activities.

DTE Energy Services and Entergy Wholesale Operations announced that construction of a jointly-owned 320 MW natural gas-fired electric power generating plant began in May in Will County, IL. The plant, located about 30 miles south of Chicago in the Village of Crete, is expected to be in commercial operation in June 2002. The facility will be operated by Entergy Operating Systems Inc., in cooperation with DTE Energy Services. “The electric output from this facility will be available in time to supply additional electricity to the region during high-demand periods next summer,” said Barry G. Markowitz, president of DTE Energy Services. The companies said gas for the project will be provided through the recently completed Vector Interstate Pipeline. The Vector pipeline is partially owned by MCN Energy, which will become part of DTE Energy as a result of a merger between the companies, expected to close today. EntergyShaw LLC, an affiliate of the Shaw Group, will provide the engineering, procurement and construction services for the project.

Norma F. Dunn has assumed the role as senior vice president of Communications and Government Affairs for El Paso Corp. Dunn will manage all local, state, federal, and international government relations, while retaining her current responsibilities as senior vice president over all corporate communications, public relations, media relations, regional issues management, and emergency response activities.

TXU Energy Services has signed a three- year, $100 million-pluscomprehensive energy management contract with Bass Hotels &Resorts, a subsidiary of Bass PLC, to provide natural gas, electricand risk management services, develop energy-efficiency improvementprojects and provide consolidated billing services.

Southern Company launched a new subsidiary, Southern Power Co., last week that will own, manage and finance wholesale generating assets in the Southeast. The subsidiary will market to wholesale customers in the fastest-growing wholesale electricity market in the country, the company said.