Regulatory

Over bitter opposition from ANR Pipeline, the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission issued a certificate to the 149-mile Guardianpipeline project yesterday, giving the upper Midwest another majorgas transporter.

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) has called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to revoke the authority of 18 power generation facilities in California to sell electricity at market-based rates.

El Paso subsidiary Southern Natural Gas Co. filed a certificate application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to construct and operate a $240 million pipeline to transport vaporized LNG to Jacksonville, FL, from a recommissioned import terminal at Elba Island, GA, near Savannah. (see Daily GPI, April 26, 2000).

A recent decision by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) has cleared the way for a Cinergy Capital & Trading (CC&T) Inc. subsidiary to start construction on a 130 MW, gas-fired electric peaking facility in Indiana.

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) has called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to revoke the authority of 18 power generation facilities in California to sell electricity at market-based rates.

Laclede Gas Co. has asked for regulatory approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission to initiate a “weather clause” that it says would protect its 633,000 natural gas customers from weather-related fluctuations in their bills and would stabilize the company’s annual revenues.

Regulatory approval by the government in Western Australia will allow Chevron Australia Pty Ltd. to move forward with a $1.6 billion expansion of its Australian LNG facilities, the North West Shelf Venture (NWSV) near Karratha, Western Australia. The expansion, which is designed mainly to increase exports to Japan and Pacific Rim countries, also would provide increased LNG shipments to the United States — including a potential new import terminal on the West Coast (see NGI, March 26).

California’s chief energy regulator Monday blasted the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its decision last week to uphold El Paso Natural Gas Co.’s contract with an a affiliate for 1.22 Bcf/d of interstate pipeline capacity to the California border. Further, she speculated the investigation FERC did order, regarding allegations of market manipulation, was offered insincerely on a timetable that makes it moot.

Regulatory approval by the government in Western Australia will allow Chevron Australia Pty Ltd. to move forward with a $1.6 billion expansion of its Australian LNG facilities, the North West Shelf Venture (NWSV) near Karratha, Western Australia. The expansion, which is designed mainly to increase exports to Japan and Pacific Rim countries, also would provide increased LNG shipments to the United States — including a potential new import terminal on the West Coast (see Daily GPI, March 26; March 20).