Rejects

FERC yesterday denied a complaint in which several Nevadaindustrial shippers sought exemption from continual must-flowoperation flow orders (OFOs) on Northwest Pipeline’s system, and tobe reimbursed for the costs of complying with the OFOs. But theCommission did hold out some hope for the shippers, saying it wouldconsider proposals to provide relief from the pipeline’s constantOFOs.

Calgary-based Berkley Petroleum Corp. unanimously rejected the takeover bid last week by a Hunt Oil Co. subsidiary, which offered to purchase all of the common shares of the company for $10 per share. Analysts were meanwhile speculating that without a white knight, Berkley might be worth more if it’s broken up and sold.

With growing concerns about the fragility of California’selectricity market under summer peak demand stresses, theCalifornia Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) Board of GovernorsThursday laid out an aggressive agenda to transform the state’spower market into a “workably competitive” model while narrowlydrawing short of further tightening of price caps. It was thesecond time in a week the Cal-ISO board wrestled with the price capissue.

With growing concerns about the fragility of California’selectricity market under summer peak demand stresses, theCalifornia Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) Board of GovernorsThursday laid out an aggressive agenda to transform the state’spower market into a “workably competitive” model while narrowlyrejecting further reduction in price caps. It was the second timein a week the Cal-ISO board wrestled with the price cap issue.

The Supreme Court last week refused to review a case in whichKansas gas producers could wind up paying millions of dollars incustomer refunds for selling gas in the 1980s at prices that,because they incorporated the state’s ad valorem tax, may have beenabove the allowed legal limit.

The Supreme Court earlier this week refused to review a case inwhich Kansas gas producers could wind up paying millions of dollarsin customer refunds for selling gas in the 1980s at prices that,because they incorporated the state’s ad valorem tax, may have beenabove the allowed legal limit.

On a 3-2 split vote, California regulators last week dismissed aproposal for allowing gas distribution competition in anindustrialized part of the East San Francisco Bay. The majority,led by the current president of the California Public UtilitiesCommission, rejected an alternative proposal by two members of thefive-member CPUC.

California regulators last week on a 3-2 split vote dismissed aproposal for allowing natural gas distribution competition in anindustrialized part of the East San Francisco Bay. The majority,led by the current president of the California Public UtilitiesCommission, rejected an alternative proposal by two members of thefive-member CPUC.

In rejecting NiSource’s revised tender offer of $6.1 billion ($74/share) last week, Columbia Energy Group’s board announced that it authorized management to begin considering all options, including a sale of all or part of the company to a third party, possibly even NiSource.