Orders

Ringing in the new year with a natural gas rate cut, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) issued orders Wednesday on a number of PSE&G filings, which have the combined effect of reducing rates for the company’s typical residential gas heating customers (who use an average of 200 therms in the winter and 1,252 therms annually) by 3.3%.

FERC last Wednesday issued an order directing Exelon Corp. and affiliates PECO Energy Co., Exelon Generation Co. LLC and Power Team to show cause whether they violated a key section of the Federal Power Act (FPA) and standards of conduct in FERC regulations by operating PECO’s transmission system in an unduly preferential manner or sharing non-public information related to the timing and location of maintenance outages.

In an effort to begin expansion of its Kern River natural gas pipeline to more than double what is currently transported, Williams reported that it has ordered more than 700 miles of 36-inch and 42-inch pipe so that the increased capacity can be in place by May 2003. The company said the expansion will provide 906 MMcf/d of additional transportation capacity from Wyoming to California.

In an effort to begin expansion of its Kern River natural gas pipeline to more than double what is currently transported, Williams reported that it has ordered more than 700 miles of 36-inch and 42-inch pipe so that the increased capacity can be in place by May 2003. The company said the expansion will provide 906 MMcf/d of additional transportation capacity from Wyoming to California.

Bonneville Power Authority (BPA) violated its tariff in failing to provide 227 MW of short-term capacity to Idaho Power, when the capacity was availabile and the Idaho company was next in the bidding queue, FERC said in an order issued Monday (EL01-66).

On orders from a state Superior Court judge, California officials Friday made public the 38 long-term electricity contracts it has signed this year with 18 suppliers and marketers. Along with the impact of conservation and favorable weather of late, the state’s long-term contracts have cut its average cost of spot market power from $275/MWh in February to $121/MWh this month.

On orders from a state Superior Court judge, California officials Friday made public the 38 long-term electricity contracts it has signed this year with 18 suppliers and marketers. Along with the impact of conservation and favorable weather of late, the state’s long-term contracts have cut its average cost of spot market power from $275/MWh in February to $121/MWh this month.

Following a warning last Thursday by Pacific Gas and ElectricCo. that its gas suppliers were cutting off supplies because theyweren’t getting paid for their gas, Energy Secretary BillRichardson stepped in and ordered the suppliers to continueproviding gas to PG&E through this Wednesday.

Following a warning last Thursday by Pacific Gas and ElectricCo. that its gas suppliers were cutting off supplies because ofPG&E’s financial trouble, Energy Secretary Bill Richardsonstepped in and ordered the suppliers to continue providing gas tothe utility through this Wednesday.