Portland

In an affidavit filed at FERC last week, Reliant Energy Power Generation and Reliant Energy Services acknowledged that they overscheduled small amounts of energy to delivery points in California “on some occasions” during the critical 2000-2001 period, but they said this practice was both needed and welcomed by the California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO).

Northern Border Partners LP showed a 43% increase in third quarter net income to $29.1 million or $0.65 per unit after several pipeline and processing acquisitions this year, including Midwestern Gas Transmission and gathering assets in the Powder River Basin. Cash flow increased 23% to $82.1 million.

Northern Border Partners LP showed a 43% increase in third quarter net income to $29.1 million or $0.65 per unit after several pipeline and processing acquisitions this year, including Midwestern Gas Transmission and gathering assets in the Powder River Basin. Cash flow increased 23% to $82.1 million.

Portland, OR-based Northwest Natural Gas Co. last week activated a $109 million annual retail rate increase, or an average of 20% for customers in Oregon, reflecting the natural gas utility’s reliance on mostly long-term, fixed-price supply contracts costing about $322 million signed early in the year when wholesale prices hovered in the $4 to $5/MMBtu range.

Portland, OR-based Northwest Natural Gas Co. Monday activated a $109 million annual retail rate increase, or an average of 20% for customers in Oregon, reflecting the natural gas utility’s reliance on mostly long-term, fixed-price supply contracts costing about $322 million signed early in the year when wholesale prices hovered in the $4 to $5/MMBtu range.

Despite strong urging from natural gas distributors, the regional Northwest Power Planning Council in Portland, OR, is expected later this month to draw short of stepping up the region’s push for faster natural gas conversions by end-users, letting market forces decide. Meanwhile, the council is keeping a close eye on the extremely low hydro situation, whose impact has been eased by a combination of emergency generation units and shutdown of major industrial plants.

Despite strong urging from natural gas distributors, the regional Northwest Power Planning Council in Portland, OR, is expected later this month to draw short of stepping up the region’s push for faster natural conversions by end-users, letting market forces decide. Meanwhile, the council is keeping a close eye on the extremely low hydro situation, whose impact has been eased by a combination of emergency generation units and shutdown of major industrial plants.

Portland, OR-based Northwest Natural Gas Co. said its first quarter earnings will be lower than expected, blaming the decline on rate increases last fall, which appeared to have sent a message to its 525,000 customers in Oregon and southwest Washington to conserve.

Portland, OR-based Northwest Natural Gas Co. said this week that its first quarter earnings will be lower than expected, blaming the decline on rate increases last fall, which appeared to have sent a message to its 525,000 customers in Oregon and southwest Washington to conserve.