Requests

St. Louis-based Laclede Gas Co. yesterday filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to increase a portion of its general rate structure to allow it to recover increased distribution costs for its 633,000 customers in Eastern Missouri. Laclede noted that the proposal would not affect customers’ wholesale gas costs, local gross receipt tax rates or interstate pipeline and storage costs.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week signed off on requests by ISO New England and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) to extend the $1,000 per megawatt hour (MWh) bid caps in their energy markets, but only through the end of October. Meanwhile, a FERC official said that in his view, once the caps expire later this year, that may very well spell the end of such caps in both New York and New England.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week signed off on requests by ISO New England and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) to extend the $1,000 per megawatt hour (MWh) bid caps in their energy markets, but only through the end of October. Meanwhile, a FERC official said that in his view, once the caps expire later this year, that may very well spell the end of such caps in both New York and New England.

Ever-timid in their reactions to the increasing number ofemergency requests from utilities of late,ÿCaliforniaÿregulatorsmodestly extended a new securitization contract approach tomaintaining Pacific Gas & Electric’s future fuel supplies. TheCPUC action allows PG&E to continue offering suppliers theoption of a lien in retail customer bills that covers the full costof wholesale gas prices. Its 30 to 40 suppliers can sign on for upto 180 days (from the previous 90-day limit). PG&E hadrequested the securitization deals be extended up to 365 days.

Showing some tiredness with the continuing round of “emergency”declarations swirling throughout California’s energy markets, stateregulators Thursday refused to consider an eleventh-hour request bySouthern California Edison Co. to modify a legislatively-setpricing formula for renewable energy and qualifying facilities (QF)from which it buys power in lieu of the current unprecedentednatural gas prices. The payment formula is based on price indicesfor gas at the California-Arizona border, which saw spot prices atthe $36 to $41/Mcf level earlier this week.

Showing some tiredness with the continuing round of “emergency”declarations swirling throughout California’s energy markets, stateregulators Thursday refused to consider an eleventh-hour request bySouthern California Edison Co. to modify a legislatively-setpricing formula for renewable energy and qualifying facilities (QF)from which it buys power in lieu of the current unprecedentednatural gas prices. The payment formula is based on price indicesfor gas at the California-Arizona border, which saw spot prices atthe $36 to $41/Mcf level earlier this week.

Voluntary curtailments of electrical use by some medium- tolarge-size customers was implemented Wednesday in the northern halfof California as officials and utilities continued to monitorclosely a lingering heat wave in the inland parts of the state,driving natural gas loads to the max for electric generationplants.

Proctor & Gamble has posted requests for commodity quotes(RFQs) for about 28.7 Bcf over the next year starting July 1 on anew e-commerce website, Energygateway.com, which lays claim tobeing the biggest and best transaction site for industrial energycustomers, utilities and producers. But you better get your bids insoon; the deadline is June 15.

Although its requests were partially met last week by theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission, the New York IndependentSystem Operator got an earful from FERC Commissioners, including anultimatum to get its systems in proper working order or have itsauthority taken away.