Ordered

FERC has ordered Enserco Energy Inc., a Colorado-based natural gas marketer, to pay $1.4 million to resolve claims that it violated the agency’s open-access transportation rules.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Monday ordered Enserco Energy Inc., a Colorado-based natural gas marketer, to pay $1.4 million to resolve claims that it violated the agency’s open-access transportation rules.

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) on Tuesday ordered a $32 million refund to Portland-based Northwest Natural Gas Corp.’s customers through a one-time refund and a 3.4% drop in their monthly gas utility rates, effective June 1. Northwest Natural was overcollected for bulk gas purchases for the five-month heating season period (Nov.1, 2008-March 31, 2009), the PUC said in taking the action.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil to begin submitting semi-annual operation reports and significant incidents reports for their liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal and storage facility in Kenai, AK. The Commission in 1967 approved the companies’ request for authorization to export LNG from the Kenai facility, but FERC at the time did not subject the facility to the reporting and inspection requirements that now apply to all other operational LNG terminals. The Kenai facilities, which export LNG to Pacific Rim countries, “will be subject to a cryogenic design and technical review of the facility’s design, operation and maintenance” by FERC; regular Commission staff technical reviews and site inspections on at least an annual basis or more frequently; and will be required to file semi-annual operational reports that identify changes in facility design and operating conditions, abnormal operating experiences, plant modifications and future plans. Reports are to be filed within 45 days after each period ending June 30 and Dec. 31.

Delivering a pre-holidays gift to the state’s consumers, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) in mid-December ordered keeping electric rates unchanged and decreasing retail natural gas rates for two utilities — Wisconsin Public Service Corp. (WPS) and Wisconsin Power & Light (WP&L). The changes are effective Thursday with the start of the new year.

For running afoul of capacity release regulations, FERC Friday ordered Wisconsin-based marketer Integrys Energy Services Inc. (Integrys ESI) to pay a civil penalty of $800,000 and disgorge unjust profits of $194,505, and fined Enbridge Marketing (US) LP $500,000 to be paid within 10 days to the federal government.

For running afoul of capacity-release regulations, FERC Friday ordered Wisconsin-based marketer Integrys Energy Services Inc.(Integrys ESI) to pay a civil penalty of $800,000 and disgorge unjust profits of $194,505, and fined Enbridge Marketing (US) LP $500,000 to be paid within 10 days to the federal government.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Monday ordered the federal government to pay more than $1 billion in recovered costs to a group of exploration and production (E&P) companies, upholding a 2005 federal court’s decision to pay for leases off the California coast that were breached. The decision affirms that the government owes the companies bonuses they paid for Outer Continental Shelf leases.

Tennessee said it was allowing all production behind the Grand Chenier and Sabine processing plants that had been ordered to shut in Monday due to Tropical Storm Edouard to resume flows Wednesday.