Vector Pipeline management was all smiles last week asconstruction on the pipeline kicked into high gear and one of itsmain competitors, CMS Gas Transmission & Storage Co.’s TriStatePipeline, halted efforts to pursue its application forconstruction. While TriState foundered, the Vector project, whichwould make 1 Bcf/d of transport available from western Canada toChicago, is on schedule to start service in October.
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Vector Construction Picks Up the Pace
The first major construction activity kicked off this week forVector Pipeline, the project partners announced yesterday. Theproject, which would make 1 Bcf/d of transport available fromwestern Canada to Chicago, is on time to start service in October.
BP Amoco, Arco Restarting Clock at FTC
Growing weary of waiting, BP Amoco and Atlantic Richfield Co. hope to step up the pace of their ongoing merger procedures by restarting the required 20-day notice period, suspended Nov. 2, at the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The companies concede the FTC has concerns about their pairing, but the merger partners said they don’t agree with the issues raised by the commission.
Prices Continue to Slide but at a Slower Pace
Cash prices continued this week’s slide Wednesday, although thedescent wasn’t as steep as on the day before. Most of the newdeclines were around a dime or slightly more. The few pipes fallingless than a dime tended to be clustered in the Midcontinent.
Court Speeds Up Columbia Case
The Chancery Court of Delaware is stepping up the pace on alawsuit filed on June 24 against Columbia Energy Group by NiSource,NiSource said yesterday. The court has called for an acceleratedschedule for the case in which NiSource is seeking to compelColumbia to reopen its 1999 annual meeting so that another directorcan be elected to a vacant seat on Columbia’s board.
Washington Gas Offers Five-Year Rate Freeze
In order to keep pace with Maryland gas deregulation, WashingtonGas filed a rate plan with the Maryland Public Service Commission(MPSC) last week, proposing a five-year rate freeze and credits oncustomer bills if the company’s return on equity (ROE) exceeds 12%.Washington Gas hopes to have the filing approved this fall.
Washington Gas Offers Five-Year Rate Freeze
In order to keep pace with Maryland’s gas deregulation,Washington Gas filed a rate plan with the Maryland Public ServiceCommission (MPSC) yesterday, in which the utility proposed afive-year rate freeze and plan that would result in credits oncustomers’ bills if the company’s return on equity (ROE) exceeds12%. Washington Gas hopes to have the filing approved this fall.
The Online Retail Energy Market Is Scheduled for Lift-Off
While deregulation at the retail level inches along at a snail’s pace, the online retail energy marketplace is quietly gaining market acceptance and could be become a real stimulant to competition.
Rally in November Aftermarket Slows to a Crawl
The upward track of cash prices continued Wednesday, but at asnail’s pace compared to Tuesday’s skyrocketing pyrotechnics. Mostof the new increases were quite meager, ranging from a penny or soto about a nickel. The first significant winter weather that manyareas have seen so far this season was credited with keeping theNovember price rally going, albeit modestly.
Major Marketer Bemoans Pace, Lack of Competition
In the battle between marketers and LDCs to restructure the gasindustry, commercial customers are being overlooked, according toKathleen Magruder, vice president of rates and tariffs for EnronEnergy Services (EES). “I had a regulator. say to me, ‘Well, ‘I’venever heard a commercial customer say they really want somechoice.’ So the next meeting I brought in 15 commercial customers.He was real unhappy.