Regulatory

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued certificates last week for multiple new gas pipeline infrastructure projects designed to meet mainly new power generation demand in many regions of the country. It granted final approvals for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line’s Leidy East expansion in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, a new pipeline by Petal Gas Storage in Mississippi, an ANR lateral extension to serve the 1,050 MW Badger power plant in Kenosha, WI, and Northwest Pipeline’s 9.4-mile Everett Delta Lateral to serve generation and LDC demand in the state of Washington. The Commission also denied rehearing of its orders granting Kern River Gas Transmission certificates to expand its system by about 135 MMcf/d.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued several important certificates Wednesday for new gas pipeline infrastructure projects, including final approvals for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line’s Leidy East expansion in Pennsylvania, for a new pipeline by Petal Gas Storage in Mississippi and for an ANR lateral extension to serve to 1,050 MW Badger power plant in Kenosha, WI. The Commission also denied rehearing of its orders granting Kern River Gas Transmission certificates to expand its system by about 135 MMcf/d.

President Bush has announced his intention to nominate Joseph Timothy Kelliher to fill out the five-member Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has announced an accelerated process to develop a standard interconnection agreement to be used by all utilities and regional transmission organizations (RTO) in hooking up generators in the development of an efficient, open access transmission service.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revealed last Thursday that it has set up a mechanism so its staff can closely monitor operational flow order (OFO) activity on interstate natural gas pipelines to determine whether abuses may be occurring against pipeline shippers.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may be over-reaching in trying to hone regional transmission organizations (RTO) down to “four plus one (ERCOT),” according to congressmen and witnesses before the House Energy and Air Quality subcommittee Wednesday.

Acknowledging the converging and consolidating natural gas and power industries, Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioners last week issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (RM01-10) combining the standards of conduct for natural gas pipelines and electric transmission providers and broadening their application to require separation of the regulated monopolies from all other company affiliates.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last week issued a favorable preliminary determination on non-environmental grounds to Tuscarora Gas Transmission’s Wadsworth Lateral, a 14.2-mile pipeline extension and associated facilities that would increase Tuscarora’s transportation capacity by 95,912 Dth/d. The lateral would extend from Tuscarora’s mainline in northern Washoe County, NV, to an interconnect with Pauite Pipeline in Nevada.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioners Wednesday agreed to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking broadening the application of standards of conduct for transmission providers, including both natural gas pipelines and power lines, to require separation of the regulated monopolies from any other company affiliate.