Push

Several consumer groups in Montana, including the local chapter of the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), want to pursue ballot initiatives that would call for the repeal of sections of the state’s deregulation law and a ratepayer rebate that would be funded by excess profits from generators.

Despite a “go slow” approach toward electric competition in Florida that has already turned away Duke Energy, Enron Corp. appears to be making headway in the quest to enter the tightly guarded state, according to a recent SCIENTECH IssueAlert by Will McNamara. The community of Deerfield Beach, FL recently gave Enron approval to build a natural gas-fired power plant one mile north of a site it abandoned last week “amid fierce opposition.”

A group of several dozen moderate and conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives last week unveiled a package of energy proposals that, among other things, calls for the immediate construction of a pipeline to bring Alaskan North Slope gas to markets in the United States and the creation of an energy reliability organization to help facilitate the possible role of regional transmission organizations (RTOs) in dealing with regional electricity transmission issues.

A group of several dozen moderate and conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives this week unveiled a package of energy proposals that, among other things, calls for the immediate construction of a pipeline to bring Alaskan North Slope gas to markets in the United States and the creation of an energy reliability organization to help facilitate the possible role of regional transmission organizations (RTOs) in dealing with regional electricity transmission issues.

Despite a “go slow” approach toward electric competition in Florida that has already turned away Duke Energy, Enron Corp. appears to be making headway in the quest to enter the tightly guarded state, according to a recent Scientech IssueAlert by Will McNamara. The community of Deerfield Beach, FL recently gave Enron approval to build a natural gas-fired power plant one mile north of a site it abandoned earlier in the week “amid fierce opposition.”

Atmos Energy Corp. said it has reached a definitive agreement topay $375 million for the gas operations of two Citizens UtilitiesCo. distribution subsidiaries — Louisiana Gas Service Co. and LGSNatural Gas Co. Atmos said the acquisitions will make it thelargest natural gas distributor in Louisiana with approximately359,000 customers.

A concerted push by utilities and industries in the Pacific Northwest to implement load reductions means that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) will only have to raise wholesale power rates by 46% starting the first of October, a not insubstantial rate hike, but a far cry from the 250% or more increases being bandied about by the BPA just two months ago (see Daily GPI, April 11; June 8).

Citing a newfound “emphasis on the natural gas in the past eight months,” California regulators last Thursday moved ahead on several key natural gas issues, while delaying action on electricity issues that are caught up in concurrent state legislative proceedings. The regulators also provided an exemption for rolling blackouts for the major petroleum refineries in the state.

Citing a newfound “emphasis on the natural gas in the past eight months,” California regulators Thursday moved ahead on several key natural gas issues, while delaying action on electricity issues that are caught up in concurrent state legislative proceedings. The regulators also provided an exemption for rolling blackouts for the major petroleum refineries in the state.