Planned

A group representing 32 industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest has asked FERC to conduct a more thorough analysis of Northwest Natural Gas Co.’s planned acquisition of Enron affiliate Portland General Electric (PGE). The group charges that the deal could reduce competition in the region’s natural gas transportation and power markets. Northwest Natural and Enron agreed to the $1.8 billion cash and stock transaction in October two months before Enron declared bankruptcy (see Power Market Today, Oct. 9).

El Paso said the Pecos River Station’s #2 turbine will remain down longer than planned due to damage discovered during an ongoing overhaul. Capacity through Pecos River will be cut by 60 MMcf/d through Nov. 20.

The terrorist attack on New York delayed a shareholder vote on Montana Power Co.’s planned sale of its gas and power distribution business to NorthWestern Corp. for $602 million in cash and assumption of $488 million in debt. The vote was scheduled to take place on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Theater in Butte, MT, however the New York company in charge of tabulating the votes was affected by the terrorist attacks. In addition, the New York Stock Exchange was closed and isn’t expected to open until today.

Northern Natural Gas said a planned maintenance outage of its Northrup Compressor Station, affecting 4,000 MMBtu/d, has been extended through Tuesday.

The terrorist attack on New York has delayed a shareholder vote on Montana Power Co.’s planned sale of its gas and power distribution business to NorthWestern Corp. for $602 million in cash and assumption of $488 million in debt. The vote was scheduled to take place on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Theater in Butte, MT, however the New York company in charge of tabulating the votes was affected by the terrorist attacks. In addition, the New York Stock Exchange is closed and isn’t expected to open until Monday.

Colorado Interstate Gas is holding an open season on capacity planned as part of a southern system expansion. The pipeline company said it is prepared to expand its system along its Campo Lateral in Las Animas County, CO, to Campo Junction and delivery points south of Campo Junction. It would expand its capacity by adding compression or looping as necessary to accommodate shipper commitments. CIG anticipates the expansion could be in service in October 2002. Parties interested in the open season should visit CIG’s bulletin board at http://www.epenergy.com/ebblinks/ebb.htm . The open season started yesterday and will close on July 31. Precedent agreements and offer sheets can be faxed to Craig Coombs at (719) 520-3792. For more information call CIG’s Tom Dobson at (719) 520-4606.

Less than half of the electric power plants now in development in the United States are likely to be completed, according to an analysis of electricity and natural gas supply and demand by an energy analyst with the Williams Capital Group LP, a New York-based investment bank.

Less than half of the electric power plants now in development in the United States are likely to be completed, according to an analysis of electricity and natural gas supply and demand by an energy analyst with the Williams Capital Group LP, a New York-based investment bank.

Calpine said it acquired the development rights from Enron NorthAmerica for the 750 MW gas-fired Pastoria Energy Center planned forKern County, CA. The $500 million project was licensed by theCalifornia Energy Commission in December 2000 and construction isexpected to begin this summer. Energy deliveries are scheduled tobegin by summer 2003 in time to help meet Southern California’sgrowing peak summer power demand. “This project significantlyadvances Calpine’s $4 billion energy initiative to bring 8,000 MWof new generating capacity to the California market in the nextfour years,” said Calpine’s Vice President — BusinessDevelopment John King. Pastoria will be built about 30 miles southof Bakersfield on property leased from the Tejon Ranch Corp. Thefacility will feature three General Electric Frame 7FA gascombustion turbines in combined-cycle with two steam turbines,representing 750 MW of capacity.