Unveiled

At the Republican National Conference in Philadelphia last week,Republicans unveiled an energy platform that was highly critical ofthe existing policies of the Department of Energy (DOE), theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission and the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA).

NiSource Inc. last week unveiled the new organizationalstructure that will be in place when its $6 billion merger withColumbia Energy Group is completed, and noticeably absent from theroster was Columbia Chairman, CEO and President Oliver “Rick”Richard III who had fought tooth and nail to fend off NiSource’soverture.

At the Republican National Conference in Philadelphia this week,Republicans unveiled an energy platform that was highly critical ofthe existing policies of the Department of Energy (DOE), theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission and the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA).

NiSource Inc. yesterday unveiled the new organizationalstructure that will be in place when its $6 billion merger withColumbia Energy Group is completed, and noticeably absent from theroster was Columbia Chairman, CEO and President Oliver “Rick”Richard III who had fought tooth and nail to fend off NiSource’soverture.

Capitol Hill observers who had expected the electricderegulation legislation of Sens. Phil Gramm (R-TX) and CharlesSchumer (D-NY) to be more aggressive and comprehensive than otherbills languishing in the Senate weren’t disappointed last week.

Capitol Hill observers who had expected the electricderegulation legislation of Sens. Phil Gramm (R-TX) and CharlesSchumer (D-NY) to be more aggressive and comprehensive than theother bills pending in the Senate weren’t disappointed yesterday.

Some say the long-awaited pipeline safety reauthorizationlegislation that was unveiled by the Clinton administration earlierlast week is a pipeline’s worst nightmare come true. It imposestougher safety standards, gives the Department of Transportation(DOT) more inspection muscle, quadruples the amount of civilpenalties for violators, enhances criminal enforcement andstrengthens the role of states in inspecting pipelines.

Some say the long-awaited pipeline safety reauthorizationlegislation that was unveiled by the Clinton administration earlierthis week is a pipeline’s worst nightmare come true. It imposestougher safety standards, gives the Department of Transportation(DOT) more inspection muscle, quadruples the amount of civilpenalties for violators, enhances criminal enforcement of violatorsand strengthens the role of states in inspecting pipelines.

After 18 months in the making, FERC yesterday unveiled itsmuch-anticipated mega-rule that tackles a full plate of post-Order636 reforms designed to promote greater efficiency and fairness inan ever-changing natural gas market.