Petition

The National Energy Board (NEB) has dismissed TransCanada PipeLines request for a review of the board’s June 2002 decision on the pipelines 2002 Fair Return Application (RH-4-2001). In its order, the NEB sharply lowered the pipeline company’s proposed toll increase and requested rate of return. Last week’s decision comes as the latest chapter in what has been a two-year dispute.

The National Energy Board (NEB) has dismissed TransCanada PipeLines request for a review of the board’s June 2002 decision on the pipelines 2002 Fair Return Application (RH-4-2001). In its order the NEB sharply lowered the pipeline company’s proposed toll increase and requested rate of return. Thursday’s decision comes as the latest chapter in what has been a two-year dispute.

The federal appeals court in Washington, DC dismissed last Tuesday a petition for review brought by Southern Natural Gas Co.’s shippers who claimed they were, or potentially will be, aggrieved by a FERC order that allows the pipeline to offer service to Southern Company Services (SCS) at lower rates than what they pay.

The federal appeals court in Washington, DC dismissed Tuesday a petition for review brought by Southern Natural Gas Co.’s shippers who claimed they were, or potentially will be, aggrieved by a FERC order that allows the pipeline to offer service to Southern Company Services (SCS) at lower rates than what they pay.

FERC at last week’s meeting dismissed a complaint filed by the National Association of Gas Consumers (NAGC) against “all sellers of natural gas in the United States of America in interstate commerce,” which asked FERC to set a benchmark price for natural gas of $2.74/MMBtu and allow any sales above that level to be subject to complaints and refunds as unjust and unreasonable.

FERC Wednesday dismissed a complaint filed by the National Association of Gas Consumers (NAGC) against “all sellers of natural gas in the United States of America in interstate commerce,” which asked FERC to set a benchmark price for natural gas of $2.74/MMBtu and allow any sales above that level to be subject to complaints and refunds as unjust and unreasonable.

Marking its first petition for a rate increase in seven years, Progress Energy subsidiary, NCNG, said Monday that it has filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC), seeking an increase in natural gas service rates for its customers. The company said it is seeking to recover the cost of serving its 176,000 residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers.

Granting the company’s mid-August petition, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved Philadelphia Gas Works’ proposal to reduce rates for its natural gas customers. The reduction will result in a $171 million cut in rates for its more than 520,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers (see Daily GPI, Aug. 20).

ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) and six New England powertransmission companies filed today a joint petition yesterday withFERC for a declaratory order to form the New England RegionalTransmission Organization (NERTO). Under the plan, which was inresponse FERC Order 2000, ISO-NE, Bangor Hydro-Electric, CentralMaine Power, National Grid USA, Northeast Utilities, The UnitedIlluminating Company, and Vermont Electric Power propose a RegionalTransmission Organization (RTO) consisting of two entities workingin concert: (1) a new independent transmission company, NortheastIndependent Transmission Company, LLC (NE ITC); and (2) anindependent system operator (ISO). Like ISO-NE, the NE ITC will besubject to FERC regulations. Under the plan, ISO-NE will be thesystem operator for the New England control area, administer thewholesale markets in the region, and provide most ancillaryservices through its tariff. ISO-NE has proposed that the NewEngland Power Pool (NEPOOL) have a continuing role, albeitmodified, in the development and modification of the rules for theNew England markets and with respect to related agreements, andthat immediate steps be taken to increase conformance of the NewEngland and New York markets.