Offers

A cross-section of U.S. energy representatives this weekpresented a laundry list of actions that they believe the WhiteHouse, Congress and regulators must take to boost energy supplies,which they say are at dangerously low levels.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) last weekunanimously voted out two orders, one that offers customers theoption of changing gas marketers monthly and one that prohibits gasdisconnections for residential customers until April 1. A thirdorder, which will allow customers to change marketers even if theyhave outstanding debt with their previous marketer, squeaked by ona three to two vote with Commissioner Stan Wise˜and newly appointedChairman Lauren “Bubba” McDonald dissenting.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) last weekunanimously voted out two orders, one that offers customers theoption of changing gas marketers monthly and one that prohibits gasdisconnections for residential customers until April 1. A thirdorder, which will allow customers to change marketers even ifÿtheyhave outstanding debt with their previous marketer, squeaked by ona three to two vote with Commissioner Stan Wiseÿand newly appointedChairman Lauren “Bubba” McDonald dissenting.

U.S. offshore production of natural gas fell slightly; thenumber of new pipeline projects in the Gulf of Mexico droppeddramatically; Texas — the nation’s leading gas producer — tookhits to its production and consumption levels; California andWyoming experienced a robust boost in production; California sawthe sharpest rise in gas demand; residential users enjoyed theirsecond straight year of lower delivered gas prices; and pipelineimport capacity expanded considerably.

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. (TCPL) announced a one-year firmtransportation open season on its Canadian Mainline from Empress toseveral points. Bids will be accepted from until Oct. 12.

U.S. offshore production of natural gas fell slightly; thenumber of new pipeline projects in the Gulf of Mexico droppeddramatically; Texas — the nation’s leading gas producer — tookhits to its production and consumption levels; California andWyoming experienced a robust boost in production; California sawthe sharpest rise in gas demand; residential users enjoyed theirsecond year of lower delivered gas prices; and pipeline importcapacity expanded considerably.

To “ameliorate” the effects of natural gas price volatility thiswinter, FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker yesterday called on LDCs toaccent hedging techniques and long-term contracts, state regulatorsto make greater use of rate design and stabilization tools andclosely oversee LDC purchasing practices, and both federal andstate governments to support energy assistance and weatherizationprograms to aid low-income customers.

As the western states generally, and California in particular,faced another blast of power-draining summer heat, Duke EnergyNorth America (DENA) last week proposed to California Gov. GrayDavis a combination of long- and short-term new generation and afive-year, fixed-price electricity option to buffer mass consumersfrom electric price volatility.

As the western states generally, and California in particular,faced another blast of power-draining summer heat, Duke EnergyNorth America (DENA) proposed Monday to California Gov. Gray Davisa combination of long- and short-term new generation and afive-year, fixed-price electricity option to buffer mass consumersfrom electric price volatility.