As part of a broad-based statewide investigation the first halfof 1999, California will explore possibilities for opening upelectricity distribution to competition as an extension of thestate’s ongoing energy industry restructuring. Potential impact onthe natural gas industry will be part of the investigation orderedearlier this month by the California Public Utilities Commission.
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Vector Pipeline Environmental Study Completed
The 330-mile U.S. portion of the Vector Pipeline, proposed tocarry natural gas from the Chicago Hub to eastern connections,moved a step closer to construction with the issuance yesterday ofa draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) by the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission.
Open Season Set for New ‘Voyageur’ Project
TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. and Nicor Inc. yesterday took thefirst formal step towards making the substantially altered VikingVoyageur pipeline project a reality by scheduling an open seasonfor capacity.
CA. Regulators Toward Gas Unbundling
California regulators took another step toward unbundling thenatural gas business in the state last week, issuing proposedguidelines and saying it will remove limits on the state’sseven-year core aggregation program, meaning any size core customereventually will be able to choose a new supplier.
August Futures Face Major Bearish Hurdle
The August Nymex contract may have taken a significant steptoward posting further losses on Friday, but the jury on that isstill out. After August fell below major support at $2.32 Friday,enough buyers stepped in to prevent the spot month from moving anylower than $2.30. That enabled August to settle the day down 4.0cents to $2.309, but more selling could be in store when tradingresumes today. “I think a lot of traders took off early Fridayafternoon, or were simply not interested in putting in fresh openpositions before the weekend,” an analyst commented.
Vector Project Arrives at NEB
IPL Energy and MCN Energy took the last major regulatory step inadvancing their 1 Bcf/d Vector Pipeline project this week by filingan application with Canada’s National Energy Board forauthorization to construct the 16-mile Ontario portion of the342-mile line. An application for the larger U.S. portion was filedwith FERC in December.
Plug Power Unveils Residential Fuel Cell
In a dramatic step toward the development of a whole new way ofgenerating electricity, Plug Power demonstrated last week the firstresidential fuel cell to successfully power a home.
New Western-KCPL Deal Would Spawn Electric Co.
A new step was added Thursday to the elaborate tango of WesternResources and Kansas City Power & Light as the companiescontinue their attempt at a union. Western and Kansas City Power& Light (KCPL) restructured their merger agreement, forming anew electric company. The new company-to be named WestarEnergy-will be headquartered in Kansas City, MO, and traded on theNew York Stock Exchange. The announcement met with early approvalfrom at least one analyst.