Ruling

EnCana said late last month that it intends to seek a court ruling that FERC is the only appropriate forum for review of the natural gas market manipulation allegations raised in two private lawsuits recently filed against it in two California courts.

EnCana said late last week that it intends to seek a court ruling that FERC is the only appropriate forum for review of the natural gas market manipulation allegations raised in two private lawsuits recently filed against it in two California courts.

The FERC majority has upheld a major ruling to reassert jurisdiction over a portion of natural gas gathering facilities on North Padre Island (NPI) that Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line had spun down to its gathering affiliate, Williams Field Services Co. (WFS). But Commissioner Nora M. Brownell, who voted in favor of the order last year, signaled a change of heart.

The FERC majority has reaffirmed a noteworthy ruling to reassert jurisdiction over a portion of gas gathering facilities on North Padre Island (NPI) that Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line had spun down to its gathering affiliate, Williams Field Services Co. (WFS). But Commissioner Nora M. Brownell, who voted in favor of the order last year, signaled a change of heart.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit last Friday issued a ruling siding with Idaho Power in its challenge of two previous FERC orders that effectively blocked the power company from entering into a 10-year power deal to sell electricity to Idaho Power’s merchant group (IP Merchant).

BC Gas Inc. announced it has received approval in the form of an Advance Ruling Certificate from the Canadian Competition Bureau for its previously announced acquisition of Centra Gas British Columbia Inc. and Centra Gas Whistler Inc. from Westcoast Energy Inc.

The U.S. Supreme Court last week denied a producer group’s petition for review of a lower court ruling that upheld a Clinton administration prohibition on oil and natural gas leasing in forest lands in Montana.

The U.S. Supreme Court this week denied a producer group’s petition for review of a lower court ruling that upheld a Clinton administration prohibition on oil and natural gas leasing in forest lands in Montana.

While he strongly supports a money settlement between parties in the high profile case alleging affiliate and market-power abuse on the part of El Paso Corp. subsidiaries, FERC Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis Wagner Jr. indicated that he won’t postpone issuing his initial decision to accommodate settlement negotiations. Assuming a settlement is not brokered, Wagner said he “feels strongly that this case should proceed to decision at the very earliest possible date.”