Northeast

Saying a takeover of Northeast Utilities (NU) by ConEdison wouldhurt the state’s consumers and economy, Connecticut AttorneyGeneral Richard Blumenthal recently filed statements at theConnecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) opposingthe merger. The DPUC is expected to issue its final decision on themerger in May.

About 300 MMcf/d of Sable Island gas is flowing through theMaritimes & Northeast Pipeline currently to markets in theU.S., a spokeswoman for the pipeline company said last week. Thepipe, which transports gas produced offshore Nova Scotia, isexpected to be shipping 450 MMcf/d by summer and 530 MMcf/d whenthe Halifax, St. John’s and Point Tupper laterals in Canada areconstructed and open for service.

About 300 MMcf/d of Sable Island gas is flowing through theMaritimes & Northeast Pipeline currently to markets in theU.S., a spokeswoman for the pipeline company said yesterday. Thepipe, which transports gas produced offshore Nova Scotia, isexpected to be shipping 450 MMcf/d by summer and 530 MMcf/d whenthe Halifax, St. John’s and Point Tupper laterals in Canada areconstructed and open for service.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline has begun clearing theHalifax Lateral pipeline route. The clearing contractor began workon Feb. 29 in various locations along the lateral route that havereceived National Energy Board approval. Clearing is scheduled tobe complete in April.

Saying a takeover of Northeast Utilities (NU) by ConEdison wouldhurt the state’s consumers and economy, Connecticut AttorneyGeneral Richard Blumenthal recently filed statements at theConnecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) opposingthe merger. The DPUC is expected to issue its final decision on themerger in May.

Prices kept falling Wednesday but at a slower rate than the daybefore. Even Northeast citygates were putting the brakes on theirdescent, averaging barely more than a dime down.

After engaging in a Northeast LDC eating binge last year, EnergyEast Corp. started the digestion phase of its strategy yesterday byannouncing the completion of its Connecticut Energy purchase. Thetransaction gives Energy East control over Southern Connecticut GasCo., an LDC serving 160,000 customers. The original purchase offerwas made last April for $617 million. Energy East (formerly knownas NYSEG) still has a full plate, however, as its transactions withCTG Resources, CMP Energy and Berkshire Energy are still beingprocessed. Following the completion of all the acquisitions, EnergyEast will have more than 1.3 million electric customers and morethan 542,000 gas customers, excluding any added through CMP NaturalGas, the Maine gas distribution partnership of Energy East and CMP.With CTG and Connecticut Energy, Energy East becomes the largestgas distributor in the state with about 300,000 customers.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. announced anagreement yesterday with Bangor Gas Co. to transport up to 85,000Dth/d from the Maritimes facilities to Bangor Gas’ proposeddistribution facilities in Veazie, ME, and Bucksport, ME.

The blizzard that blanketed the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast lastweek forced the cancellation of a major meeting that was called toconsider whether the Gas Industry Standards Board (GISB) shouldexpand its reach to develop national standards not only for theretail gas market, but for the retail and wholesale power markets.