Plans

Calpine Corp., Texas’ largest independent power producer,announced yesterday plans to build, own and operate an 800 MWnatural gas-fired cogeneration power plant at Bayer Corp.’schemical facility in Baytown, TX. Permitting for the $335 millionfacility is under way, the company said. The plant is expected tobegin commercial operation in late 2001.

Two on-going lawsuits is enough, a California Superior Courtjudge said in dismissing Southern Union’s challenge in his court tothe merger plans of Southwest Gas with Oneok. Judge Ronald Pragerdismissed the case last Friday because SU is making the samearguments in the federal courts of Nevada and Arizona, the LasVegas-based Southwest said. The case was dismissed withoutprejudice, meaning SU can re-file upon resolution or termination ofthe federal actions.

Southern Co., the largest electric generator in the country,still plans to hire 1,000 more people before the end of the year.Many of the job openings are in the unregulated sector, the companysaid last week. So far in 1999, Southern has filled 2,000 vacant ornew positions.

Southern Co., the largest electric generator in the country,still plans to hire 1,000 more people before the end of the year,the company said yesterday. Many of the job openings are in theunregulated sector. So far in 1999, the company has filled 2,000vacant or new positions.

Pacific Gas and Electric is attempting to block Denver-basedWestern Gas Resources’ plans for moving into a heavilyindustrialized part of the utility’s East San Francisco Bay serviceterritory by converting a proprietary gas pipeline to astate-regulated, open-access supply line serving proposed newmerchant power plants in Pittsburg, CA, along with surroundinglarge industrial loads.

AMDAX.com, an e-commerce company based in San Diego, CA,unveiled plans yesterday to host an Internet-based real-timeutility auction system, in an attempt to give California gas andelectric consumers another option to secure their energy needs. Thecompany said it was in the midst of finalizing numerous contractswith electric generators, gas and electric marketers and end users.Currently, the auction is set to start Nov.1.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is attempting to block Denver-basedWestern Gas Resources’ plans for moving into a heavilyindustrialized part of the utility’s East San Francisco Bay serviceterritory by converting a proprietary gas pipeline to astate-regulated, open-access supply line serving proposed newmerchant power plants in Pittsburg, CA, along with surroundinglarge industrial loads.

Koch Gateway Pipeline’s proposal to create an interactiveauction for shippers to bid on capacity in expiring firm storagecontracts has come up against some protest at the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission.

Mexico’s Energy Secretariat Luis Tellez has signaled that hiscountry plans to lift the 4% tariff on natural gas imported fromthe United States.