Mega

The first of a series of industry meetings aimed at addressingthe controversial issues in the mega-notice of proposed rulemaking(NOPR) and notice of inquiry (NOI) gets underway in Houston today.Many are hoping the sessions will provide the way for the bickeringsegments of the gas industry to achieve common ground on some ofthe top issues posed by FERC.

FERC yesterday played Santa Claus to the natural gas industry bygranting its wish for a second extension of the deadline forcomments on the mega-notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR)addressing short-term capacity issues and notice of inquiry (NOI)focusing on long-term transportation issues (RM98-10, RM98-12]. Butit did not close the door for those few who might want to filecomments under the current schedule.

The proposed merger of electric powerhouse American ElectricPower (AEP), which also owns the midstream gas assets formerly heldby Equitable Resources, and Central and Southwest Corp. (CSW) wasplaced on hold last week, as FERC set the case for an evidentiaryhearing, saying “sufficient concerns” had been raised aboutpotential market power in both the transmission and generationarenas.

The proposed mega-merger of American Electric Power (AEP) andCentral and Southwest Corp. (CSW) was placed on hold earlier thisweek as FERC set the case for an evidentiary hearing, saying that”sufficient concerns” had been raised about potential market powerin both the transmission and generation arenas.