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California’s newly created state power authority began this week to shape the state’s legislatively mandated return to “integrated resource planning,” the process — pre-dating energy restructuring — of central state planning of the needed mix among fuels for electricity generation, renewables and demand-side management and responsiveness programs. The process sets aside the notion that markets will sort out the right mixture, giving that role to state government.

Lower commodity prices sent earnings tumbling for both majors and independents in the third quarter, with the newly merged ChevronTexaco reporting that its net income from operations declined 27%. Apache Corp., a Houston-based independent, had record production in the third quarter, but also had its earnings decline. And across town, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said reduced prices will cause it to slow the pace of its production schedule through this year and into next. “Now is not the time to grow gas production just for the sake of growth,” said Anadarko CEO Robert Allison.

The newly expanded State Line Power Plant near Joplin, MO got a boost to its service last week, as a unit of Williams began natural gas transportation service on Friday to the plant. Williams recently completed a $19.7 million expansion of its Central pipeline system, adding 37 miles of 20-inch pipeline and an increased pressure rating of 16-inch line to nearby Oklahoma.

In the first meeting of the newly-formed Alaska Highway Natural Gas Policy Council (AHNGPC) last week, Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles charged the 28-member panel of community, business and labor leaders with the task of looking into public policy questions surrounding the development and transportation of natural gas in the North Slope.

In the first meeting of the newly-formed Alaska Highway NaturalGas Policy Council (AHNGPC) last week, Alaska Gov. Tony Knowlescharged the 28-member panel of community, business and laborleaders with the task of looking into public policy questionssurrounding the development and transportation of natural gas inthe North Slope.

Duke Energy and Williams got a final certificate from FERCyesterday to proceed with their newly acquired Gulfstream NaturalGas System project, a proposed 744-mile pipeline that would supplygas to the ever-expanding power generation market in Florida.

Duke Energy Field Services (DEFS) began service on its newlyconstructed 12-inch, 42-mile natural gas pipeline, which travelsfrom the company’s Carney processing facility to its Kingfisherplant near Cashion, OK. The company said the line is capable ofmoving 60 MMcf/d.

Duke Energy Field Services (DEFS) began service on its newlyconstructed 12-inch, 42-mile natural gas pipeline, which travelsfrom the company’s Carney processing facility to its KingfisherPlant near Cashion, OK. The company said the line is capable ofmoving 60 MMcf/d.

NiSource Inc. has chosen James K. Abcouwer as president and CEOof its newly-merged Columbia Natural Resources subsidiary. Abcouwerhad been NiSource’s senior vice president of Merchant Energy andpresident of its unregulated supply management company, TPC Corp.He will report to Patrick J. Mulchay, president of Merchant Energy.He succeeds W. Henry Harmon, who resigned Dec. 1. Abcouwer joinedNiSource in 1994 as vice president of Gas Supply for its NorthernIndiana Public Service Co. Prior to joining NIPSCO, Abcouwer hadalso been a director of Marketing and Gas Supply for Tenneco Gas.NiSource closed the acquisition of Columbia last November.