Public

Retail gas competition in the state of New York clearly needs ajump start, and the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) gaveit one yesterday. The PSC announced it will force the state’s localdistribution companies to cease selling gas within three to sevenyears.

DuPont’s board of directors approved the previously announcedinitial public offering (IPO) of Conoco common stock before the endof 1998. Following completion of the IPO, DuPont intends to offerits remaining Conoco shares to DuPont shareholders in exchange forDuPont shares in a tax-free split-off expected to be completedwithin 12 months.

Marketers participating in the soon-to-be-unbundled Georgiamarket scored some key victories in a decision last week by theGeorgia Public Service Commission which will provide them withcomplete customer information from Atlanta Gas Light in electronicformat, allow them a chance to prove they can do their own meteringand allow free trading of daily imbalances.

Although the public’s overall awareness of energy deregulationhas inched up over the past three years, a majority of residentialand business customers surveyed say they still know next to nothingabout the issue and its potential effect on them, according to theresults of two major surveys issued last week.

Although the public’s overall awareness of energy deregulationhas inched up over the past three years, a majority of residentialand business customers surveyed say they still know next to nothingabout the issue and its potential effect on them, according to theresults of two major surveys issued this week.

Marketers lost a battle against LDCs last month when theMichigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) sided with MichiganConsolidated Gas (MichCon) and Consumers Energy in a dispute overfees charged for tracking title to gas that changes hands on theLDCs’ systems. The MPSC found it had no jurisdiction to regulatetitle transfer tracking fees.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved anexpansion of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania’s customer choice pilotprogram to include 270,000 residential and small-commercialcustomers in south-central and western Pennsylvania, or about 70%of the company’s customers.

The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) has asked FERC toinitiate a proposed rulemaking for the purpose of opening up aninquiry into the appropriate rate design for interstate natural gaspipelines.

Atlanta Gas Light Services has vowed to fight a decision by aGeorgia Public Service Commission hearing officer that wouldprohibit the company from using the name of its utility affiliate,Atlanta Gas Light. The marketing affiliate filed an appeal June 26,contending the initial decision, if upheld, would “reducecompetition in direct violation of the statutory purposes of the[Georgia] Natural Gas Act” when the deregulated market opens thisfall.