Ordering

FERC last Monday rejected Trunkline Gas Co. LLC’s request to rehear a decision ordering the pipeline to stop using “critical notices” and operational flow orders (OFOs) to impose long-term restrictions on the quality of natural gas entering its system.

FERC on Monday rejected Trunkline Gas Co. LLC’s request to rehear a decision ordering the pipeline to stop using “critical notices” and operational flow orders (OFOs) to impose long-term restrictions on the quality of natural gas entering its system.

With the White House last week reiterating its support for a voluntary approach to regional transmission organizations (RTO), FERC Chairman Pat Wood on Wednesday said that if his agency doesn’t have the “tool” of being able to order mandatory participation in the regional grid operators, the Commission will effectively be crippled in its efforts to set up regional power markets.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved a stipulation and consent agreement ordering National Fuel Gas Supply Corp. to pay refunds to its firm storage and transportation customers who subscribed to service during a period in which the company illegally operated a storage well without the prior consent of the agency.

Although an “unwelcome” and “unprecedented” development, FERC’sdecision last week ordering 13 power generators and suppliers inCalifornia to pay potential refunds of $69 million on transactionsfor the month of January will have a “relatively benign” impact onthe companies’ finances, according to a Merrill Lynch report.

President Clinton’s decision yesterday ordering the Departmentof Energy to trade crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reservefor two million barrels of heating oil stored in the Northeast asprotection against fuel shortages this winter may not be enough tocalm down Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY).

Claiming to be an innocent victim, TXU Energy Trading is seekinga stay of a decision ordering CNG Transmission to turn overpipeline capacity that was initially awarded to TXU toan existingpipeline shipper, who FERC found had properly exercised itsright-of-first-refusal (ROFR) for the capacity.

Like an irate mother ordering her child to come inside while theother children play, the Georgia Public Service Commissionunanimously voted Tuesday to order a full hearing into Atlanta GasLight’s (AGL) rate charging operations. The hearings will beginFeb.3 and a decision is expected by Feb. 9. The vote took placeduring a regular session of the commission.

FERC dealt KN Interstate Gas Transmission a serious blow lastweek in ordering the pipeline to explain a 41% overrun in the costof its Pony Express Pipeline Project and prove the project stillmeets the Commission’s test for rolled-in rate treatment.