Responsibility

United States Energy Association (USEA) recommends the nation assign one government agency the responsibility for oversight and coordination of infrastructure security programs across the entire energy sector.

With politicians and economists pointing fingers in various directions to attach responsibility for California’s electricity problems, the quarterly UCLA business school economic forecast last Thursday predicted a recession for the state, particularly in the north, driven largely by the electricity crisis. A separate analysis by the university and Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) looked at two scenarios, advocating perhaps a different course than the one charted currently by the state.

With politicians and economists pointing fingers in various directions to attach responsibility for California’s electricity problems, the quarterly UCLA business school economic forecast last Thursday predicted a recession for the state, particularly in the north, driven largely by the electricity crisis. A separate analysis by the university and Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) looked at two scenarios, advocating perhaps a different course than the one charted currently by the state.

CMS Energy Corp. announced Norman J. Saari has been promoted to executive director of governmental and international affairs, with responsibility for managing the company’s Washington, DC governmental affairs office. Saari, 52, will succeed David G. Mengebier, who becomes senior vice president of governmental and public affairs effective Aug. 1, 2001, upon the retirement of John W. Clark. CMS said Saari had been executive director of state governmental affairs, heading up Consumers Energy’s Lansing, MI, governmental affairs office. In addition, Jacalyn H. Hadden, 45, has been promoted to director of state governmental affairs, succeeding Saari. Hadden had been state legislative representative in Lansing, reporting to Saari, since 1991.

Allegheny Energy’s $323 million acquisition of West Virginia-basedMountaineer Gas Co. (MGC) was completed on schedule thisweek. Allegheny Energy assumed the responsibility of Mountaineer GasCo.’s 11.7 Bcf of gas storage and 200,000 natural gas customers alongwith the company’s ownership rights from Energy Corp. of America (seeDaily GPI, Aug. 15).

PG&E Energy Trading-Gas Corp. has named Al Pollard to thepost of Midwest basis trader with responsibility for managing theMidwest desk’s basis risk, reporting to Michael L. Axton, directorof gas trading, Midwest. Pollard joins PG&E Energy Trading fromEnron where he has held trading positions in natural gas and powersince 1995.

PG&E Corp. has selected Joseph P. Kearney, currently seniorvice president of PG&E Corp. and president and CEO of its U.S.Generating Company (USGen), to assume the additional responsibilityof president and CEO of PG&E Gas Transmission. Kearney, 52,succeeds Jack F. Jenkins-Stark who is leaving the company to pursueother interests.