Request

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Bill Richardson made aspirited request to a host of gas industry executives yesterday,asking for their help to pass a federal electric restructuring billbefore the end of this year. Richardson, addressing attendees ofthe Natural Gas Roundtable in Washington D.C., said the gasindustry stands to gain handsomely if electric restructuring getspassed as soon as possible.

Northern States Power Co. issued a request for proposals (RFP)for up to 1,200 MW of power generation capacity and associatedenergy for a period of 10 years, beginning sometime between May 1,2003, and May 1, 2005. NSP will use the additional resources tomeet increased retail customer demand. NSP is seeking peaking,intermediate and base-load resources. The RFP is open to allsources of power, including renewable resources. NSP will selectwinning proposals based on cost, environmental impact and deliveryguarantees. Before awarding the contract(s), NSP will submit theevaluation of the proposals to the Minnesota Public UtilitiesCommission (MPUC) for review. For a copy of the RFP or moreinformation, contact David L. Zuck at (612) 330-6452. He also maybe reached via fax, (612) 330-5868, or e-mail,david.l.zuck@nspco.com.

Energy.com Corp. of Columbus, OH, is preparing to launch eBID,an on-line Request for Proposal (RFP) system through its web siteat www.energy.com. The web-based interactive RFP process will allowcommercial and industrial businesses to shop for the best energysource on-line. Energy.com’s eBID is scheduled to launch later thismonth.

In response to a data request from CNG’s board, Columbia EnergyGroup extended its deadline to May 10 for the CNG board to respondto its unsolicited merger proposal. CNG asked for additionalinformation on a two-way collar mechanism in Columbia’s $6.7billion bid for the company (see NGI, April 26).

FERC yesterday upheld an administrative law judge’s partialinitial decision denying KN Interstate Gas’ (KNI) request to rollin the costs associated with the construction of its Pony ExpressLine and Kansas City Line.

FERC last week denied Midcoast Interstate Transmission’s requestfor a limited stay of the orders giving Southern Natural Gas(Sonat) the go-ahead to build an extension of its mainline intonorthern Alabama.

Westcoast Energy Inc. last week challenged BC Gas’ request for an abbreviated approval process for the Southern Crossing pipeline proposal and called for a full public review of the re-filed proposal by BC Gas to build a $350 million pipeline across Southern British Columbia. Westcoast maintains the Southern Crossing project is too expensive and that there are other alternatives.

FERC yesterday ruled that Koch Gateway Pipeline failed to meetthe burden of proof in its request for market-based rate fortransportation services, causing it to reverse a 1997 initialdecision by an administrative law judge.

FERC yesterday flatly rejected a request by two Enron affiliatesfor a limited waiver of the capacity-release regulations and the”shipper must have title” policy that would enable them to transfertitle to gas being shipped on five New York State-bound pipelinesbefore the gas actually hits the market.