Planning

TransCanada Corp. is planning a binding open season this month to establish precedent agreements for oil transportation capacity on its proposed 1,870 mile Keystone oil pipeline project from Alberta to Illinois, which includes conversion of a 770-mile section of its natural gas mainline from near the Alberta-Saskatchewan border to just west of Winnipeg, MB.

As an adjunct to comprehensive planning for future electricity supply/demand in the state, California needs a widespread re-articulation of its policies and programs on natural gas, according to Joseph Desmond, California Energy Commission chairman, speaking Monday at the opening session of the three-day American Public Power Association (APPA) national meeting in Anaheim, CA.

Topeka, KS-based Western Resources Inc. said it is planning to sell its $960 million stake in Tulsa-based Oneok. Western subsidiary Westar Industries has engaged JP Morgan to advise it in the sale of 4.7 million shares of Oneok common stock and preferred stock that is convertible into 39.9 million additional shares of Oneok common stock, representing about 44.5% of total Oneok shares. Oneok is a midstream gas transporter in the Midcontinent region and the largest natural gas distributor in Kansas and Oklahoma, operating as Kansas Gas Service and Oklahoma Natural Gas, which serve 1.4 million customers. Western Resources has total assets of $6.6 billion, including security company Protection One and electric utility Westar Energy, which serves 640,000 customers in Kansas.

Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (NGPL) said Tuesday that it is planning to expand a portion of its Amarillo-to-Gulf Coast pipeline by 232,000 Dth/d in order to serve growing gas production from the Barnett Shale in northeastern Texas. NGPL is holding a binding open season through June 8 to test market interest in the project.

Following a report of accelerated losses in last year’s fourth quarter, El Paso Corp. followed up Thursday with a long-range planning update in which it intends to get out of all noncore businesses and pay down debt quicker in hopes of hitting net income of up to $750 million next year, the company told financial analysts at a conference it hosted in Houston. This follows a reported net loss in 2004 of more than $1 billion announced by the company Wednesday.

Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) is planning to add 10 Bcf of working gas capacity to its North Lansing gas storage field in Harrison County, TX. The pipeline company is offering incremental storage capacity in an open season that started Monday and will end March 21.

Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) is planning to add 10 Bcf of working gas capacity to its North Lansing gas storage field in Harrison County, TX. The pipeline company is offering incremental storage capacity in an open season that started Monday and will ending March 21.

California Energy Commission (CEC) Chairman William Keese said last week he was leaving the power plant siting and energy planning commission as of March 4. Keese, an attorney, made the announcement as part of the commission’s regular business meeting last Wednesday in Sacramento. Originally appointed to the commission in 1997 by then Gov. Pete Wilson, Keese was re-appointed by Gov. Gray Davis in the midst of the 2000-2001 western energy crisis. He alluded to that in making his announcement, indicating he never planned to stay on the CEC as long as he has. His fellow commissioners expressed surprise at Keese’s decision, and lauded his leadership in recent years. Keese’s current term was set to run until the end of this year. At Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s request, Keese will continue to be California’s designee and co-chair of the Western Governors’ Association advisory committee on “clean and diversified” energy. Schwarzenegger will have 30 days after Keese leaves to name a replacement to fill out his term.

Atmos Energy is planning a complete rebranding of TXU Gas Co. on Feb. 1. The Texas utility company, its customers’ bills, employees’ uniforms, vehicles, buildings, forms, stationery, pipeline markers and website will all will have the new name Atmos Energy. “We want the transition for TXU Gas customers to be smooth and transparent,” said Atmos CEO Robert W. Best. “We purposively have delayed making major changes to ensure stability in the operations and to prepare for rebranding the business under our own name.” Atmos completed its purchase of TXU Gas and began serving customers on Oct. 1, 2004. The transaction made Atmos Energy the largest gas distribution company in the nation, serving about 3.1 million utility customers in more than 1,500 communities in 12 states . TXU Gas’ operations include service to 1.5 million utility customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and 550 other communities across northern Texas. The company also operates one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipelines in the state.