Policies

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Thursday introduced its long-awaited initiative reforming the agency’s pricing policies to promote the construction of more natural gas storage sites in the United States — an action that Chairman Joseph Kelliher said would help improve the operation of the gas markets and reduce price volatility.

California needs a widespread rearticulation of its policies and programs on natural gas and needs to expand its return to comprehensive energy planning, according to Joseph Desmond, the chairman of the California Energy Commission (CEC), who spoke last Monday at the American Public Power Association (APPA) national meeting in Anaheim, CA.

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.

In another light business meeting agenda that was still heavy with discussion about future policies, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Thursday okayed more than $600 million collectively for the state’s four major investor-owned utilities to support two ongoing low-income customer programs, while it held back on two other issues that impact consumer advocates and the state’s largest industrial customers.

In another light business meeting agenda that was still heavy with discussion about future policies, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Thursday okayed more than $600 million collectively for the state’s four major investor-owned utilities to support two ongoing low-income customer programs, while it held back on two other issues that impact consumer advocates and the state’s largest industrial customers.

The Royal Dutch/Shell Group on Thursday proposed tightening executive compensation policies to end the use of stock option grants. The plan, which must be approved by shareholders, would make the awarding of share bonuses to its directors dependent on the company’s performance.

The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) projection that domestic dry gas production rose by about 2% in 2003 appears to be “overly optimistic,” a top official with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. told a Senate panel last Thursday. If this turns out to be the case, it would be the second consecutive year that the agency has erred on the high side when estimating gas production in the U.S.

The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) projection that domestic dry gas production rose by about 2% in 2003 appears to be “overly optimistic,” a top official with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. told a Senate panel Thursday. If this turns out to be the case, it would be the second consecutive year that the agency has erred on the high side when estimating gas production in the U.S.

National Fuel Gas Distribution has asked FERC for a one-yearwaiver of the “shipper-must-have-title” policy in order toimplement retail gas unbundling on its entire system by April 1 ofthis year.