Reduction

Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and James Jeffords (I-VT) last week called on EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman to resist pressure to delay implementation of air pollution controls required by the Clean Air Act.

Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and James Jeffords (I-VT) last week called on EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman to resist pressure to delay implementation of air pollution controls required by the Clean Air Act.

Tampa-based Peoples Gas is sending a gift of sorts to its customers beginning today by reducing natural gas prices for the second time this year. The Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) factor on residential bills will drop about 32% to $0.66749/therm, following a 15% decrease in March. The two reductions lowered the PGA factor to September 2000 levels, said the company.

President Bush is expected to stress the need for greater conservation and energy efficiency when he introduces his long-anticipated energy plan to the nation this Thursday, but this will be only half of his message. He also will propose significant upgrades to the country’s aging energy infrastructure to boost supplies of natural gas, electricity, nuclear energy and coal.

Sonat reported seeing no significant reduction in nominated supply from Thursday’s gas day to the one today. Based on current nominated supply and projected demand, system requirements will exceed storage injection capabilities today, it said. Thus, unless supplies are cut back significantly today, it’s “highly likely” that an OFO Type 6 will be issued for Saturday’s day, Sonat said.

The #1 compressor at Roswell (NM) Station became unavailableFriday due to a bearing failure, causing a 30 MMcf/d reduction inSan Juan Crossover capacity, El Paso said. Repairs were expected tohave been completed Saturday.

Natural gas customers in Indiana may be seeing a 5% reduction intheir heating bills this winter, courtesy of a proposed taxexemption by Gov. Frank O’Bannon. O’Bannon said last week that hemay suspend the state sales tax similar to a ban he enacted ongasoline sales in June.

Natural gas customers in Indiana may be seeing a 5% reduction intheir heating bills this winter, courtesy of a proposed taxexemption by Gov. Frank O’Bannon. O’Bannon said last week that hemay suspend the state sales tax of o5% on natural gas, similar to aban he enacted on gasoline sales in June.

ScottishPower announced a transition plan for PacifiCorpyesterday that includes a workforce reduction of 1,600 PacifiCorpemployees over the next five years. By 2004, PacifiCorp is expectedto deliver annual cost savings from 1998 levels of $300 million inoperating expenses and $250 million in capital expenditures.Employee reductions will occur from all areas of the businessacross the company’s six-state service area. ScottishPower is aleading international multi-utility company with a marketcapitalization of about $16 billion and 7.5 million customersacross the U.K., western U.S. and Australia. Its merger withPortland, OR-based PacifiCorp was completed in November 1999.PacifiCorp currently serves 1.5 million customers in Oregon, Utah,Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and California.