Picks

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.

Gas and electricity customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey -previously served by Florida-based FPL Energy Services – soon willbecome customers of PP&L Energy Plus. PP&L EnergyPlus Co.,the retail marketing arm of PP&L Resources Inc., agreed toserve the customers after FPL Energy Services decided to exit thecompetitive energy markets in the Northeast. Terms of thetransaction were not disclosed.

Reliant Energy Retail Inc., announced last week the purchase ofall New Jersey Natural Energy’s (NJNE) commercial gas contracts.The actual agreement was signed last week, NJNE said, and customeraccounts are already switching to Reliant. Neither the number ofpurchased accounts nor the financial terms of the transaction weredisclosed. The two companies said the transition will be seamless.

Reliant Energy Retail Inc., announced yesterday the purchase ofall New Jersey Natural Energy’s (NJNE) commercial gas contracts.The actual agreement was signed last week, NJNE said, and customeraccounts are already switching to Reliant. Neither the number ofpurchased accounts nor the financial terms of the transaction weredisclosed. The two companies said the transition will be seamless.

Taking a giant step toward successfully completing a 10-monthquest, Sempra Energy announced last week that the Nova ScotiaUtility and Review Board (URB) has said it will recommend SempraAtlantic Gas as the province’s first-ever gas distributor. Theprovincial government, which has the final say in the matter, saidit would issue a decision in the next three weeks.

Taking a giant step toward successfully completing a 10-monthquest, Sempra Energy announced yesterday that the Nova ScotiaUtility and Review Board (URB) has said it will recommend SempraAtlantic Gas as the province’s first ever gas distributor. Theprovincial government, which has the final say in the matter, saidit would issue a decision in the next three weeks.

Blocked in its bid for neighboring Southwest Gas, Austin,TX-based Southern Union Co. focused on the East, picking upapproval from its board of directors and that of the Fall River GasCo., on a merger agreement.

Southern Energy Inc., a unit of Southern Co. is selling its 50%interest in Louisiana Generating LLC to NRG Energy Inc. LouisianaGenerating, which will now be held 100% by Minneapolis-based NRG,was recently confirmed by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Gerald H. Schiff asthe winning bidder for bankrupt Cajun Electric Power Cooperative’s1,708 MW of fossil-fueled generation. Louisiana Generating offered$1.026 billion for the Cajun assets.

The Kansas City Board of Trade (KCBT) had an estimated volumefor the first time this month yesterday, but the Board’s managementis not concerned about the overall lack of trading. The KCBT hasrecognized the problem and is in discussions with its customers onhow it can bring its trading floor more to life, a spokespersonsaid, but others openly wonder if there will be a gas pit at theKCBT much longer.