Requiring

WPS Resources Corp. filed a proposal last week with Wisconsinregulators requiring that all new electric generation be suppliedby independent power producers instead of utilities. The filingfollowed an announcement earlier in the week by the state’s largestenergy provider, Wisconsin Energy, which wants to build 1,700 MW by2010 under its Power the Future plan, and which has opposed the IPPplan.

The D.C. appellate court has issued a final ruling upholding theEnvironmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 1998 clean-air rulerequiring several states east of the Mississippi River to enforcestrict nitrogen-oxide (NOx) emission standards.

Texas Eastern reinstated until further notice Monday afternoon anOFO requiring that all deliveries in its M-3 market zone be made at auniform hourly rate. As in last Friday’s OFO that was suspendedSaturday morning (see Daily GPI,Jan. 18), non-compliance penalties are $25/dth and all M-3Operational Balancing Agreements are suspended for the purposes ofhourly allocations only.

While only 11 states can boast of legislation requiringstatewide customer choice for gas service, a group of Michiganlegislators have recently acted to boost that total. A package ofseven bills was introduced to the state legislature last week withthe goal of totally deregulating the state’s gas industry by April2005. Rep. Mary Ann Middaugh (R-MI-MIH080), one of the package’ssponsors and chair of the energy and technology committee, said thepackage will be considered when the Michigan House returns toLansing next month.

Ohio Governor Bob Taft signed into law a bill requiring thestate’s Public Utilities Commission to investigate any hostiletakeover bid directed at an Ohio gas utility at the time thebidder’s tender offer is made.

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft signed into law a bill requiring the state’sPublic Utilities Commission to investigate any hostile takeover biddirected at an Ohio gas utility at the time the bidder’s tenderoffer is made.

California energy regulators last week identified 10 items forpotential natural gas industry restructuring, most of which dealwith wholesale or large customer operations. State regulators alsoencouraged utilities and large customers to cease their bickeringand come up with a broad-based settlement on gas unbundling.

California energy regulators yesterday identified 10 items forpotential natural gas industry restructuring, most of which dealwith wholesale or large customer operations. State regulators alsoencouraged utilities and large customers to cease their bickeringand come up with a broad-based settlement on gas unbundling.

Senate Bill 7, legislation requiring electricity marketcompetition in Texas as of Jan. 1, 2002, passed the state SenateFriday, leaving the Governor’s signature as the missing piece ofthe puzzle before the bill becomes law. Governor George W. Bush hasnot said when he will sign the Sen. David Sibley (R-Waco)-sponsoredbill, but has voiced his support.