Pacific

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and California’s independent powerproducers with qualifying facility (QF) contracts have cut a dealto free up excess power from the merchant generators to help handledemand spikes anticipated during this summer’s heat waves. TheCalifornia Independent Energy Producers (IEP) expect to have anadvice letter filing with state regulators by the end or April tofree up as much as 1,000 MW of power in the summer. Thin ancillaryservices supplies last summer caused record price spikes.

FERC yesterday readily approved the $4 billion merger of twowestern utilities-Sierra Pacific Power and Nevada Power. This was”relatively easy” compared to other deals that have come before theCommission, said Commissioner Vicky Bailey.

Pacific Gas & Electric issued a low-inventory Stage 1 OFOfor today carrying penalties of $1/dth for negative imbalancesexceeding 5% of scheduled volumes.

Following its reorganization of semi-autonomous PacificNorthwest and Texas gas assets, PG&E Gas Transmission (PG&EGT) is looking to bolster earnings through alliances andacquisitions that it hopes to complete later this year, accordingto Thomas King, president/COO of the Houston-based unit of PG&ECorp. PG&E GT transports an average of 6 Bcf/d through the tworegions.

Pacific Gas and Electric applied to the California PublicUtilities Commission (CPUC) to reduce electric rates at the end ofthe electric rate freeze, but no later than March 31, 2002. Thestate law that governs the restructuring of California’selectricity market, AB 1890, gave residential and small businesscustomers a 10% rate reduction on Jan. 1, 1998 and froze rates atthat level. The state law also provided investor-owned utilities atransition period to recover stranded costs. That transition periodends March 31, 2002, or when the past investment costs have beenrecovered, whichever comes first. At that time, the rate reductionswill go into effect.

Bold plans by Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas andElectric Co. to transfer $2 billion in hydroelectric powergeneration assets to non-utility affiliates could threaten thecompetitiveness and profitability of the state’s emerging merchantpower business if allowed by state regulators. The proposals havesparked calls for a statewide investigation by the CaliforniaPublic Utilities Commission. Potential violations of market powerand utility affiliate transaction rules are being loudly raised bya growing number of opponents.

Union Pacific Resources Group Inc. said it will take a whopping$760 million after-tax, non-cash charge to fourth quarter earningsfor asset impairment under Financial Accounting Standard 121. UPRalso said its 1999 plans include continuing its cost-reductionprogram and a preliminary capital budget of about $500 million.Excess cash flow of more than $250 million will be used to furthercut debt to keep the company’s $2 billion de-leveraging program ontarget.

In an attempt to deter other utilities in the state, Californiaregulators Nov. 5 slapped a $1.68 million fine on Pacific Gas andElectric Co. for allowing an unregulated energy services affiliateto violate newly created state rules earlier this year governingthe use of the parent company name and logo. The PG&ampE utilitycompany expressed disappointment and vowed to appeal the decision,which requires the penalty be paid out of shareholder funds.

Remington Oil and Gas Corp. acquired interests in 10 Gulf ofMexico offshore blocks from Union Pacific Resources (UPR). Seven ofthe blocks are producing, one is anticipated to come on productionbefore year-end, and two are undeveloped. The blocks are on theoffshore Louisiana and Texas shelf in water depths less than 400feet. Interests vary from 5% to 100%, with all of the producingproperties being non-operated. The effective date of thetransaction is Sept. 1 with an anticipated closing prior toyear-end. Unaudited reserves for the blocks are about 7 BCFe with apurchase price of $7.65 million.