Punish

FERC’s initiation of Section 5 investigations of three interstate natural gas pipelines last month was not the start of a campaign to punish “over-earning” pipelines, an energy analyst and a pipeline official said Wednesday (see Daily GPI, Nov. 20).

With a southeastward-moving cold front starting to wipe out much of the eastern heat that had boosted prices as the week began, the cash market continued to decline Thursday except for some flat to barely higher San Juan/Rockies numbers. In most cases, however, the drops were smaller than those of the day before. Thursday’s losses tended to range from about a nickel to a little more than 30 cents, with the largest ones being recorded in the Northeast.

Senate Energy Chairman Frank Murkowski last week took anothershot at what’s fast becoming his favorite target — FERC. Hechided the Commission for failing to take punitive action againstelectric utilities that “improperly” took power from the grid lastsummer, which lead to near-blackout situations in the Midwest.

Senate Energy Chairman Frank Murkowski yesterday took anothershot at what’s fast becoming his favorite target — FERC. Hechided the Commission for failing to take punitive action againstelectric utilities that “improperly” took power from the grid lastsummer.