Order

Pipelines and LDCs have urged FERC to take an”if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it” approach to its Order 497regulations that are designed to keep interstate pipes fromfavoring their affiliates, but gas producers believe changes arelong overdue.

El Paso Natural Gas has decided to postpone what it called”routine” maintenance projects on its system in order to maintainthe flow of natural gas into the California market to meet thesurge in demand there. The higher demand has been created by ashortfall in energy imports from the Northwest region, which hasbeen gripped by cold weather.

Capstone Turbine Corp., of Woodland Hills, CA, has announced atwo-year, 126-unit order for its microturbine power systems fromMariah Energy, a leading Canadian energy service provider based inCalgary.

In an effort to comply with Executive Order 13123, which statesthat government agencies must cut energy use 30% by 2005 and 35% by2010, based on 1985 emission levels, Goodfellow Air Force Baselocated in San Angelo, TX, has entered a 15-year energy savingsagreement with Sempra Energy Solutions (SES).

Capstone Turbine Corp., of Woodland Hills, CA, has announced atwo-year, 126-unit order for its microturbine power systems fromMariah Energy, a leading Canadian energy service provider based inCalgary.

A small Massachusetts power marketer last week called on FERC toorder the suspension of all installed capacity (ICAP) chargesbilled to participants in the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL)during the April-July period until the Commission and Department ofJustice (DOJ) have completed separate investigations into gamingcharges in the market.

A small Massachusetts power marketer has called on FERC to orderthe suspension of all installed capacity (ICAP) charges forparticipants in the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) duringApril-July until the Commission and Department of Justice (DOJ)have completed separate investigations into gaming charges in themarket.

The California Electricity Oversight Board has called on FERC toorder the state Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) to maintainexisting bid caps on wholesale energy, ancillary services andreplacement reserves until the Commission completes its probe ofthe California bulk market, initiates reforms and finds the marketsto be “workably competitive.”

The Maine Public Utilities Commission and United IlluminatingCo. separately have called on FERC to order the New EnglandIndependent System Operator to disregard the extremely high bidprice for power that was purchased from a New York supplier andpermitted to set the market clearing price for energy in NewEngland during a heat wave last May.