Atlanta Gas Light Co. (AGL) reached an agreement with theGeorgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) Wednesday to return to itspre-deregulation billing methods, avoiding a Feb. 3 Commissionhearing intended to charge the utility with disregarding marketconstraints in its rate-charging practices. The utility also agreedto refund $14.5 million to overcharged customers. The reformedbills and the refunds will be sent out in February.
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Nominations for the trip to Chicago on Northern Border reached490 MMcf/d by the middle of last week, which shows the line hasbeen ramping up gradually since beginning service on Dec. 22. Butit still is about 175 MMcf/d short of being full. The 665 MMcf/dextension did not begin service near full capacity as pipelineofficials had predicted for a number of reasons, a spokeswomansaid. “The California market has been particularly strong the lastfew weeks. The delivery point at Sumas, WA, has been veryprice-positive for the Canadians so there’s been a huge amount ofgas going in that direction,” noted Northern Border’s Beth Jensen.There also was a set-back caused by water left in the linefollowing hydrostatic testing. “They did have some delivery pointsthat froze so we had to work those things out.” Unfortunately therewas a four-day period without gas flow just prior to bidweek, whichcreated market uncertainty entering the month and probably impactednominations. “The kinks in the system are being worked out,” shesaid. “Now nominations at Manhattan, IL, [into Peoples] are 340MMcf/d and at Minooka [into NiGas] are 150 MMcf/d. “Frankly I don’tthink the market in Chicago to this point has jelled. I think it’son its way to working out. But right now the market off of Ventura,IA, [into Northern Natural to Minnesota and western Wisconsin]seems to be as strong as anything. It’s been very cold up there.”Northern Border’s expansion/extension project increased take-awaycapacity at Ventura by 260 MMcf/d.
Northern Border Still Ramping Up
Nominations for the trip to Chicago on Northern Border reached490 MMcf/d yesterday, which shows the line has been ramping upgradually since beginning service on Dec. 22, but the pipe still isabout 175 MMcf/d short of being full.
BC’s Southern Crossing Re-Files With Two Shippers
BC Gas said it thinks its Southern Crossing Pipeline is now a go since it reached agreement on terms with BC Hydro for firm capacity on the proposed pipeline and peak-shaving to be provided to BC Gas by BC Hydro. In April, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) voted down the $350 million Southern Crossing Pipeline paralleling the existing BC Gas mainline in southern British Columbia between Yahk and Oliver (see NGI April 13, 1998). BC Gas re-filed Friday with the BCUC and announced another shipper in addition to BC Hydro.
BC Gas Back in Game with BC Hydro Contract
BC Gas said it thinks its Southern Crossing Pipeline is now a gosince it reached agreement on terms with BC Hydro for firm capacity onthe proposed pipeline and peak-shaving to be provided to BC Gas by BCHydro. In April, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC)voted down the $350 million Southern Crossing Pipeline paralleling theexisting BC Gas mainline in southern British Columbia between Yahk andOliver (see Daily GPI April 8, 1998). BCGas plans to re-file today with the BCUC and said it has anothershipper in addition to BC Hydro.
Report Puts Offshore Gulf Production on Edge
Well depletion rates in the Gulf of Mexico have reached astartling 38% this year and within the next three years could reach49%, according to a report by Houston-based Simmons & Co.International.
AGA Storage Revision Shows Industry Reached New Peak in ’98
It was a week late, but the American Gas Association reportedlast week that the industry put more gas in storage this year thanin any of the previous four years in which it has been conductingits storage survey. In a revision prompted by a change in totalworking gas capacity in the U.S., the AGA said on Nov. 6 there was3,127 Bcf of gas in storage, which is 58 Bcf more than the previouspeak set on Nov. 8, 1994 (See survey this issue).
CMS Buys Panhandle, Trunkline to Feed Midwest Power
CMS Energy surprised the industry early last week when itreached south from its Michigan gas and electric distribution baseto buy the Panhandle Eastern and Trunkline Gas pipeline companies -pipes, storage and LNG terminal – from Duke Energy, locking in itsown supply line to the Midcontinent and Gulf Coast. The companyalso articulated a strategy to capitalize on demand for gas-firedpower generation in the Midwest, and ended the week bydemonstrating it.
CMS Paying $2.2 Billion For Panhandle, Trunkline
In a surprise move announced Monday CMS Energy reached southfrom its Michigan distribution base to buy the Panhandle Easternand Trunkline Gas pipeline companies — pipes, storage and LNGterminal — from Duke Energy, solidifying its own supply line tothe Midcontinent and Gulf.
TransCanada Supplies & Services Yankee Gas
Yankee Gas Services Co. the local distribution arm of YankeeEnergy System Inc., has reached an agreement for TransCanada GasServices Inc. (TCGS) to supply gas, pipeline capacity and storageoptimization for three years. Yankee Gas is the largest LDC inConnecticut, delivering more than 50 Bcf of gas annually to 68communities and 183,000 customers.