Step

CMS Energy moved a step closer to its liquefied natural gas(LNG) goals yesterday, as its energy marketing arm, CMS Marketing,Services and Trading, (CMS-MST) purchased three LNG shipments fromRas Laffin LNG Co. Limited (Rasgas) in Qatar. The three cargoes,carrying a combined 8.1 Bcf, will be delivered in November andDecember of this year and in February of 2000 to CMS’ LNG complexin Lake Charles, LA, then fed into CMS Trunkline’s interstatepipeline system. The overall cost for the shipments was notreleased.

Shareholders of SCANA Corp. and Public Service Company of NorthCarolina approved a two-step merger transaction under which PSNCwill become a wholly owned subsidiary of SCANA. Shareholdersrepresenting about 76% of Scana’s outstanding shares and about 80%of PSNC’s outstanding shares approved the two proposals. The mergerstill requires state and federal regulatory approvals. Completionis anticipated during the second half of 1999.

As possibly the first step toward the formation of a multi-statewestern U.S. electricity transmission grid operator, the CaliforniaIndependent System Operator’s governing board has authorized theISO management to discuss with Nevada regulatory staff a deal underwhich the California nonprofit grid operator would expand itsoperations to handle Nevada. Public Utilities Commission staff inNevada raised the issue last month as an option for the state as itanticipates a new law that will open Nevada power markets nextspring.

Exxon and Mobil took an important step toward completing their merger last week as shareholders for both companies approved the combination. But many industry observers viewed the votes as foregone conclusions. One source called them “glorified rubber stamps.” The real test will come during the regulatory process when the transaction undergoes strict Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and European Commission (EC) scrutiny.

FERC took a major step last week toward regional operation ofthe electric transmission grid by issuing a notice of proposedrulemaking (NOPR) that seeks to promote the formation of regionaltransmission organizations (RTOs) nationwide.

FERC took a major step Wednesday towards regional operation ofthe electric transmission grid by issuing a notice of proposedrulemaking (NOPR) that seeks to promote the formation of regionaltransmission organizations (RTOs) nationwide.

The U.S. leg of the proposed Vector Pipeline has won finalenvironmental approval at FERC, moving it within one step ofbecoming certified as the first new pipeline capable of providingtakeaway transportation for the steady influx of western Canadiangas supplies entering the Chicago market. The Commission’s actioncomes in the wake of the National Energy Board’s final approval ofthe 15-mile Canadian portion of the project.

California regulators have taken a potentially precedent-settingstep by asking FERC to condition a certificate for Questar’sproposed Southern Trails Pipeline on the company first agreeing torecover from its in-state customers the costs of social programsthat would be potentially stranded by its bypass of SouthernCalifornia Gas (SoCalGas).

California regulators have taken a potentially precedent-settingstep by asking FERC to condition a certificate for Questar’sproposed Southern Trails Pipeline on the company first agreeing torecover from in-state customers the costs of social programs thatwould be potentially stranded by its bypass of Southern CaliforniaGas (SoCalGas).