Instead of trying to tackle head-on all the issues before it inits review of the short-term and long-term transportation markets,Commissioner Linda Breathitt has proposed that FERC first issue alimited final rule addressing the less-controversial issues andsave the more complex items for later. “From what I’ve read in thecomments [filed at FERC], the approach I am proposing appears to beone that many in the market could support,” she said in a recentspeech to the American Gas Association Legal Forum in La Jolla, CA.
Trying
Articles from Trying
FERC’s Breathitt Proposes Limited NOPR
Instead of trying to sift through all the issues relating to theshort-term and long-term transportation markets, Commissioner LindaBreathitt proposed that FERC first issue a limited rulemakingaddressing the less-controversial issues and save the more complexissues for later. “From what I’ve read in the comments [filed atFERC], the approach I am proposing appears to be one that many inthe market could support,” she said in a speech to the American GasAssociation Legal Forum in La Jolla, CA, last week.
Pipe Customers Caution Against New Capacity
Industrial gas customers yesterday endeared themselves topipelines that are trying to build new capacity into the Northeastmarket, calling on FERC to give the go-ahead to any and allprojects that meet “some basic standards.” Major gas and powerproducers, however, urged the Commission to first encourage pipesto use existing capacity more efficiently before doling outcertificates for new lines. They also proposed that pipelines berequired to assume more risk for their projects to protect shippersagainst “unnecessary” construction.
Group Calls for Review of PG&E Plant Sale
The consumer advocacy part of the California Public UtilitiesCommission is trying to get state regulators to second guesswinning bids on the final natural gas-fired power plants PacificGas and Electric Co. auctioned last year. The auction resulted inSouthern Company being awarded three winning bids for plants in theSan Francisco Bay Area totaling 3,065 MW and using up to 50 MMcf/dof gas.
PNGTS Trying to Complete Construction by February
Portland Natural Gas Transmission System isn’t going to make itssecond start-up deadline this month, but officials are promising tobe in service in early February. The pipeline originally expected152 MMcf/d of Canadian gas would begin flowing to New Englandmarkets last November.
FERC Freezes Florida’s Move Into Maine
The New England electric market is getting crowded, so crowdedthat a Florida-based utility poised to move into that market now istrying to get out of an $846 million deal to purchase Mainegenerating assets.
Viking Voyageur Accuses ANR of Trying to Derail Project
Viking Voyageur Gas Transmission called on FERC to dismiss ANRPipeline’s latest attacks on its project, saying they were”thinly-veiled” efforts to prevent, or “at least delay for as longas possible,” construction of a pipeline project that would bringsorely-needed competition into ANR’s Wisconsin market area.Voyageur, which would import Canadian gas into several Midwestmarkets, “is a significant threat to ANR’s market dominance inWisconsin. As a result, ANR has made every possible effort tothwart the Commission’s pro-competitive policies by delayingVoyageur’s project,” the proposed pipeline said in comments at theCommission [CP98-65].