Procedures

California regulators approved a settlement last week dealingwith Pacific Gas and Electric’s imbalance procedures andoperational flow orders (OFO). The California Public UtilitiesCommission (CPUC) however, did not act on the much tougher issuesincluded in the proposed interim and comprehensive settlementsfiled earlier this year by Southern California Gas.

California regulators yesterday approved a settlement dealingwith Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s imbalance procedures andoperational flow orders (OFO). Regulators, however, did not act onthe much tougher issues included in the proposed interim andcomprehensive settlements filed earlier this year by SouthernCalifornia Gas (SoCalGas).

Sparked by demand to simplify the billing procedures in itsderegulated electricity and gas industries, the New York StatePublic Service Commission (NYPSC) approved a recommendationyesterday allowing customers who choose an alternative supplier theoption to receive a single, combined bill for each utility service.

Growing weary of waiting, BP Amoco and Atlantic Richfield Co. hope to step up the pace of their ongoing merger procedures by restarting the required 20-day notice period, suspended Nov. 2, at the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The companies concede the FTC has concerns about their pairing, but the merger partners said they don’t agree with the issues raised by the commission.

Amoco, Burlington Resources and now Southern California Gas have broadened the attack on El Paso Natural Gas’ capacity allocation procedures and have requested that FERC block El Paso’s new $38 million contract with Enron for 1.2 Bcf/d of firm capacity.

Amoco, Burlington Resources and now Southern California Gas have broadened the attack on El Paso Natural Gas’ capacity allocation procedures and have requested that FERC block El Paso’s new $38 million contract with Enron for 1.2 Bcf/d of firm capacity.

A room full of producers was asked last week in Houston whetherthey would contract to sell gas for $3 for 10 years, adjusted forinflation. Only a smattering of hands went up. Clearly, optimismhas returned to the industry.

FERC commissioners last week finalized revisions to rules foroff-the-record communications between commissioners and key staffand persons outside the Commission. Chairman James Hoecker said thenew rule (Order No. 607) provides a balance that “will supply theclarity and precision we need. They should facilitate better accessto information while ensuring the integrity of our processes.”

Public Service Co. of Colorado and Cheyenne (WY) Light Fuel& Power will implement Operational Balancing Procedures in allareas effective Saturday and Sunday. The effect is to requireshippers to cut nominations to a level that does not exceedestimated daily consumption taken from a previous “Model Day” (inthis case July 4, 1999). Imbalance paybacks will not be allowedduring the OBP period.