Significant

In an effort to halt the exercise of significant market power inthe California bulk power markets, FERC staff has proposed that thestate-run Independent Operator System (Cal-ISO) be permitted tomitigate prices on power transactions in its real-time marketsduring periods of reserve deficiencies, such as Stage 3emergencies.

To limit the exercise of significant market power, FERC stafflast week proposed that the California Independent Operator System(Cal-ISO) be permitted to mitigate prices on power transactions inits real-time markets during periods of reserve deficiencies, suchas Stage 3 emergencies.

Duke Energy North America (DENA) is making good on its promiseto bring a significant amount of new electricity generation onlineby summer 2002. Yesterday the company broke ground on itspreviously announced Arlington Valley Energy Facility located inMaricopa County, AZ (see Daily GPI, Feb. 8).

As if any more fallout from California’s electricity crisiscould be found, a Colorado-based survey/consulting firm Tuesdayreleased summaries of a national client-supported study thatindicates large energy-using businesses are going to be willing topay more to prevent being shut down from electricity outages; andthe costs of those outages is skyrocketing.

Dominion Resources experienced significant growth in the year2000 — due in part to its recent merger with Consolidated NaturalGas (CNG) — and it forecasts an even stronger 2001. The companyposted consolidated operating earnings excluding special items for2000 of $787 million ($3.33 per share), reflecting a 10.6% increasein earnings per share over 1999’s output of $577 million ($3.01 pershare). Special items include a subtraction of $351 million dollarsrelated to CNG merger costs and the write-down of Dominion Capitalassets.

Earnings among companies within the oil and gas industrycontinue to show significant growth in 2000, as evidenced by FPLGroup and TECO Energy, two Florida-based corporations whichreported sizeable gains in earnings for the fourth quarter 2000, aswell as the entire year.

Citing significant demand in its market area, Florida GasTransmission issued an Overage Alert Day notice Thursday, effectiveuntil further notice. The OFO has a 10% tolerance for negativedaily imbalances.

There’s little doubt that pipeline capacity between the RockyMountain region and the Midcontinent is about to experience asignificant upgrade. In all, three large projects have surfaced,including one formally announced this week by Colorado InterstateGas (CIG).

The impact of the 1.325 Bcf/d Alliance Pipeline and the 1 Bcf/dVector Pipeline on Chicago basis prices will be a lot lesssignificant than some may be expecting, according to several marketobservers speaking at the LDC Forum in Chicago last week.