Sought

FERC last Wednesday sought to bring clarity to when power sellers would be on the hook for refunds under a sweeping order issued last year. That order, issued Nov. 20, proposed to revise all existing market-based rate tariffs and authorizations to prohibit the exercise of market power and anticompetitive behavior.

Kenneth L. Lay, 59, the chairman and CEO of Enron Corp., resigned on Wednesday night. Although expected by many, Lay’s departure as captain of the company he created in 1985 seemed to signal a new beginning for the now bankrupt energy trader. Enron has begun the search for a restructuring specialist who can move the company from insolvency into the black once again.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Wednesday sought to provide guidance to the power industry on the formation of an organization to develop wholesale electric industry business practice and communications standards. Although the Commission is giving industry first crack at developing such an organization, FERC made it clear that if the electricity sector does not step up to the plate — and quickly — the agency will either select an organization itself or set up a procedure to develop the standards.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) last week issued for comment staff-proposed new rules for competitive retail natural gas service and providers of the service. As a result of amended Ohio Substitute House Bill 9, which was signed into law by Gov. Bob Taft in March, the commission’s authority over gas providers in the state has been significantly expanded (see NGI, May 21).

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) has called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to revoke the authority of 18 power generation facilities in California to sell electricity at market-based rates.

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) has called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to revoke the authority of 18 power generation facilities in California to sell electricity at market-based rates.

Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Jean Carnahan (D-MO) have called on the General Accounting Office (GAO) to investigate whether FERC is carrying out its duty to ensure “reasonable” rates for the sale of wholesale power and the transportation of natural gas in the ailing California energy market.

Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Jean Carnahan (D-MO) have called on the General Accounting Office (GAO) to investigate whether FERC is carrying out its duty to ensure “reasonable” rates for the sale of wholesale power and the transportation of natural gas in the ailing California energy market.

Southern California Edison last week asked FERC Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis Wagner Jr. to issue subpoenas to three pipeline companies and an energy marketer in California in an effort to ferret out “other factors” — aside from those already attributed to El Paso Natural Gas — that may have contributed to the escalating natural gas prices in the state.