Several

Several northern Nevada industrial gas users have accusedNorthwest Pipeline of violating its tariff by holding them hostageto the daily must-flow operational flow orders (OFOs) that it hasissued since early December in an effort to compensate for thesizable capacity shortfall on its system.

The New York State Public Service Commission last week approved several items that it says will ultimately benefit consumers, including a request to transfer ownership of two electricity generating facilities in the state and two items that would give refunds to natural gas customers this winter. PSC approved a joint request from Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp., Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc., Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. and Dynegy Power Corp. to transfer ownership of the Danskammer and Roseton electricity generating facilities near Newburgh, NY to Dynegy for $903 million. Net proceeds from the sale, which will amount to about $364 million after deductions, would be used to benefit ratepayers of the three utilities involved. Danskammer and Roseton are fossil-fueled generating plants located adjacent to each other on the Hudson River. Danskammer is capable of generating 500 MW of electricity; Roseton is capable of producing 1,200 MW. NYPSC also approved an interim natural gas service plan to continue the competitive restructuring efforts of two New York downstate natural gas distribution companies, KeySpan Energy Delivery New York and KeySpan Energy Delivery Long Island. The interim plan, in effect from Jan. 1, 2001 through June 30, 2001, maintains current rates for delivery service and provides customers with a one-time winter bill credit if the costs of purchasing gas for customers in December exceed a predetermined price threshold. The commission also approved plans by Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. and Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. to accelerate refunds this winter to natural gas customers totaling $14.1 million for Niagara Mohawk and $5.7 million for Rochester Gas. Con Ed also was granted a delay on a gas surcharge until after the winter season and the commission approved another request by Niagara Mohawk to provide $110 in bill credits this winter to eligible low-income customers who heat with natural gas.

The New York State Public Service Commission yesterday approvedseveral items that ultimately will benefit consumers, including arequest to transfer ownership of two electricity generatingfacilities in the state and two items that would give refunds tonatural gas customers this winter.

Investigations in several states are getting under way intoalleged illegal profit-taking by UtiliCorp United in Missouri,Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa. An anonymous letter fromsomeone who claimed to be a current employee for UtiliCorp was sentto state regulators alleging the company’s Gas Supply ServiceDepartment (GSS) took part in improper actions in reselling naturalgas to customers in these states.

Investigations in several states are getting under way intoalleged illegal profit-taking by UtiliCorp United in Missouri,Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa. An anonymous letter fromsomeone who claimed to be a current employee for UtiliCorp was sentto state regulators alleging the company’s Gas Supply ServiceDepartment (GSS) took part in improper actions in reselling naturalgas to customers in these states.

Several consumer groups last week took steps toward pushing forre-regulation nationally and in states, denouncing efforts toderegulate the electricity industry as flawed.

Georgia’s leading natural gas marketer, Georgia Natural Gas Co.,has been back-billing “several thousand” customers for charges thatdate back as far as a year, according to officials with the GeorgiaPublic Service Commission. That news comes as the PSC deferredconsideration until Nov. 20 of proposed new rules which wouldrequire marketers to provide efficient billing to customers.

Georgia’s leading natural gas marketer, Georgia Natural Gas Co.,has been back-billing “several thousand” customers for charges thatdate back as far as a year, according to officials with the GeorgiaPublic Service Commission. That news comes as the PSC deferredconsideration of proposed new rules over billing by marketers untilNov. 20, which would require marketers to provide efficient billingto customers.

Need a reason to embrace the future of the power industry? Howabout 10 reasons? Several U.S. utility executives last week offeredtheir upbeat take on the power generation and natural gas outlookfor the next five years, with El Paso Energy, Reliant Energy,Dynegy Inc. and Williams Energy Services giving a birds-eye view ofwhat’s ahead during a forum at PowerMart 2000 in Houston.