Regulator

A California regulator late Thursday proposed that the state regulatory commission abandon the long-standing, now outdated, Southern California Gas Co. unbundling settlement for its in-state transmission pipeline and storage system.

New York Public Service Commission Chairman William Flynn wants the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) to investigate the reasons for soaring natural gas futures prices in light of adequate gas storage levels and normal winter weather. Nymex suggests they need look no further than the loss of the major gas marketers which has led to a decline in futures market liquidity.

New York Public Service Commission Chairman William Flynn wants the New York Mercantile Exchange to investigate the reasons for soaring natural gas futures prices in light of adequate gas storage levels and normal winter weather. Nymex suggests they need look no farther than the loss of the major gas marketers which has led to a decline in futures market liquidity.

After putting through two state regulator-approved natural gas cost adjustment rate increases collectively totaling 30%, Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy is gearing up this fall for increased relief for its low-income, or near-low-income customers.

Arizona’s top energy regulator, Marc Spitzer, chair of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), described a rapidly growing southwestern natural gas market in need of additional gas storage infrastructure at the “Southwestern Gas Storage Technical Conference” FERC held in Phoenix Tuesday.

Saying that it is time to stop “playing politics” and work with federal regulators to create a viable wholesale energy market, the head of Arizona’s Corporation Commission lashed out Monday at neighboring California officials from the governor on down to the regulators. He made his comments as part of a presentation to a regional energy conference in Las Vegas, NV.

Saying that it is time to stop “playing politics” and work with federal regulators to create a viable wholesale energy market, the head of Arizona’s Corporation Commission lashed out Monday at neighboring California officials from the governor on down to the regulators. He made his comments as part of a presentation to a regional energy conference in Las Vegas, NV.

A combination of two key settlements and stability returning to the wholesale power markets allowed Southern California Edison Co. to get California state regulators to authorize a $1.25 billion retail rate decrease, effective Aug. 1. It comes about six months ahead of schedule for the utility, and there is more to come before the year’s out, Edison’s President Robert Foster said Thursday during an interview with NGI.

Challenging the rules governing the elected, five-member New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, one of its charter commissioners is trying to get on the ballot for a third term. Currently the 1998 law forming the commission restricts commissioners to two four-year terms. The state attorney general’s office is conducting an investigation to see if a third term is in the cards for Jerome Block.