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Deregulation of New Hampshire’s electricity market moved a giantstep closer to becoming a reality on Tuesday. The New HampshirePublic Utilities Commission approved the state’s settlementagreement with Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH),allowing the process of electric restructuring to continue on itstrack.

Kinder Morgan says an open season for an expansion of TrailblazerPipeline has signed up 300 MMcf/d of fixed rate contracts for aminimum term of 10 years. The company is targeting the fourth quarterof 2002 for completion of the $54 million project. The proposedexpansion of Trailblazer’s 436-mile pipeline would start in Rockport,CO, at a multi-pipeline connection, and end in Gage County,NE. Trailblazer plans to install two new compressor stations, addadditional horsepower at compressor station 602 and perhaps constructsome 36-inch loop. The open season “generated a very strongresponse,” said Richard D. Kinder, chairman of Kinder Morgan EnergyPartners L.P. The company dropped an earlier plan to include anextension to its pipeline system in the open season when it appearedColorado Interstate Gas would have an expansion of its competingMedicine Bow lateral completed before a new Trailblazer line could beconstructed (see Daily GPI, Aug. 8).

TransCanada PipeLines has set an open season through tomorrow forone-year firm maximum rate capacity for 750,000 gigajoules a day fromEmpress to several points on its system. Bids will be accepted for FTcontracts to commence anytime between Nov. 1, 2000 and March 30,2001. The FT space is available to the Saskatchewan, Manitoba orEmerson zones, or there is 300,000 gj/d available to the Eastern Zone(SWDA). TransCanada is not considering annual short haultransportation in the current posting, but may do so in a futureposting. Also, if long haul FT offers are made after tomorrow’sdeadline, the pipeline may initiate a new open season. TransCanadacurrently is not authorized to offer discounted FT, but “we’re alwaysavailable to sell capacity.” Contact Keith Nelson at403-267-1691 or keith_nelson@transcanada.com for information and bidforms or to get on an email or fax list for future postings. Also,current rates, toll schedules, proforma contracts and information isavailable at www.transcanada.com/business/pdftariff

TransCanada PipeLines has set an open season through tomorrowfor one-year firm maximum rate capacity for 750,000 gigajoules aday from Empress to several points on its system. Bids will beaccepted for FT contracts to commence anytime between Nov. 1, 2000and March 30, 2001. The FT space is available to the Saskatchewan,Manitoba or Emerson zones, or there is 300,000 gj/d available tothe Eastern Zone (SWDA). TransCanada is not considering annualshort haul transportation in the current posting, but may do so ina future posting. Also, if long haul FT offers are made aftertomorrow’s deadline, the pipeline may initiate a new open season.TransCanada currently is not authorized to offer discounted FT, but”we’re always available to sell capacity.” Contact Keith Nelson at403-267-1691 or keith_nelson@transcanada.com for information.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline officials predict there couldbe a service delay and a rate increase on its 164,000 MMBtu/d SaintJohn lateral because clearing work has been stopped illegally byunion workers. Work was scheduled to begin last Monday on theproject, but union laborers physically prevented clearing by HEFIndustries Ltd., the hired excavation/clearing contractor, whichuses non-union labor.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline officials predict there couldbe a service delay and a rate increase on its 164,000 MMBtu/d SaintJohn lateral because clearing work has been stopped illegally byunion workers. Work was scheduled to begin Monday on the project,but union laborers have physically prevented clearing by HEFIndustries Ltd., the hired excavation/clearing contractor, whichuses non-union labor.

In compliance with a major rate settlement approved by FERC inDecember, Kinder Morgan Interstate Gas Transmission LLC (KMI) lastweek reported it paid $32.6 million in refunds to customers on itsmainline and Buffalo Wallow system last month.

In compliance with a major rate settlement approved by FERC inDecember, Kinder Morgan Interstate Gas Transmission LLC (KMI)earlier this week reported it paid a whopping $32.6 million inrefunds to customers on its mainline and Buffalo Wallow system lastmonth.

On a straight partisan political vote, California regulatorsyesterday approved rate relief for beleaguered Southwest GasCorp.’s cost-overrun plagued development of a new natural gasdistribution system for the Sierra Nevada foothill town of Truckee,CA, about 50 miles east of Sacramento in the northern third of thestate.