Strictly

Coal took something of a beating from natural gas in the power generation arena this year, but coal’s displacement by gas wasn’t strictly due to exceptionally low gas prices, according to analysts at Barclays Capital. Coal producers can curse cheap gas if they want, but other factors were at play, too.

On a strictly partisan 3-2 vote, the California Public Utilities Commission last Wednesday blocked a proposed extension of pipeline capacity allocations to natural gas core aggregators on two western Canadian pipelines feeding Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s affiliate interstate transmission pipeline in the Pacific Northwest. The aggregators were seeking the same assurance of access to reasonably priced supplies that the core customers served by the utility already receive.

On a strictly partisan 3-2 vote, the California Public Utilities Commission Wednesday blocked a proposed extension of pipeline capacity allocations to natural gas core aggregators on two western Canadian pipelines feeding Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s affiliate interstate transmission pipeline in the Pacific Northwest. The aggregators were seeking the same assurance of access to reasonably priced supplies that the core customers served by the utility already receive.

On a strictly partisan 3-2 vote, California regulators Thursdayblocked attempts by the state’s two near-bankrupt investor-ownedutilities to cut their work forces and services in order toconserve cash while awaiting a settlement with the state on theirfuture financial viability. Responding to an emergency request froma coalition of utility workers’ unions, the California PublicUtilities Commission’s (CPUC) action means proposed staffinglayoffs of several thousand regular and contract workers, totalinghundreds of millions of dollars in operating costs, will nothappen.