Portland

Preparing for the advent of electric industry restructuring inNevada and a pending merger with Portland General, Sierra PacificResources’ two Nevada power utilities have begun the process ofselling off nearly a billion dollars of fossil-fuel generationplants in a two phase auction seeking preliminary, nonbinding bidsby next month. Book value collectively is just under $1 billion, aSierra Pacific spokesperson said.

Preparing for the advent of electric industry restructuring inNevada and another pending merger with Portland General, SierraPacific Resources’ two Nevada power utilities have begun theprocess of selling off nearly a billion dollars of fossil-fuelgeneration plants in a two phase auction seeking preliminary,nonbinding bids by next month. Book value collectively is “justunder $1 billion,” a Sierra Pacific spokesperson said.

Portland Natural Gas Transmission System is holding an open season through Oct. 22 on its PNGTS Pipeline to elicit interest regarding new transportation services such as access to an interconnect with Algonquin’s HubLine project and consequently, to the lucrative Boston power generation market.

Portland Natural Gas Transmission System will hold an openseason from Oct. 1 to Oct. 22 on its PNGTS Pipeline to elicitinterest regarding new transportation services such as access to aninterconnect with Algonquin’s HubLine project, and consequently, tothe lucrative Boston power generation market.

Providence Energy subsidiary ProvGas is providing remote systemcontrol and monitoring services for the Portland Natural GasTransmission System (PNGTS) – a new 272-mile pipeline that runsfrom Quebec to Massachusetts. ProvGas began providing 24-hourremote electronic monitoring of the pipeline from its Allens Avenuefacility shortly after the pipeline began operating on March 10.ProvGas will monitor the pipeline using a sophisticated SystemsControl and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to watch the portion ofthe pipeline that runs from Pittsburgh, NH, on the Quebec border,to Westbrook, ME. The line can transport 178 MMcf/d of gas.

Portland Natural Gas Transmission System isn’t going to make itssecond start-up deadline this month, but officials are promising tobe in service in early February. The pipeline originally expected152 MMcf/d of Canadian gas would begin flowing to New Englandmarkets last November.

Unless an extra contractor is hired, the joint Maritimes &Northeast (M&NE) and Portland Natural Gas Transmission (PNGTS)pipeline will not be able to start service to Maine this winter asplanned.

Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) beganconstruction of its 292-mile pipeline system. “We remain confidentthat PNGTS will be fully operational this fall, bringing thebenefits of this important new energy project to customersthroughout New England,” said Michael A. Minkos, president of PNGTSOperating Co.

Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) and Maritimes& Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) successfully crossedthe first major engineering hurdle in constructing their jointpipeline facilities, which represent the southernmost portion ofeach company’s pipeline system. The joint facilities eventuallywill bring more than 600 MMcf/d of Canadian gas to New Englandmarkets.