Upholds

FERC last Wednesday upheld its November 2003 order approving with one change a $1.7 billion settlement of California’s allegations that an El Paso Corp. pipeline drove up natural gas prices in the state by withholding capacity during the state’s energy crisis, and that it gave preferential treatment to its energy merchant affiliate during bidding on transportation capacity.

FERC on Wednesday upheld its November 2003 order approving with one change a $1.7 billion settlement of California’s allegations that an El Paso Corp. pipeline drove up natural gas prices in the state by withholding capacity during the state’s energy crisis, and that it gave preferential treatment to its energy merchant affiliate during bidding on transportation capacity.

Commerce Department Secretary Donald Evans last Monday upheld New York State’s objection to Millennium Pipeline’s proposed 442-mile, 700 MMcf/d pipeline from Lake Erie to New York City.

Commerce Department Secretary Donald Evans on Monday upheld New York State’s objection to Millennium Pipeline’s proposed 442-mile, 700 MMcf/d pipeline from Lake Erie to New York City.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has affirmed several key rulings involving creditworthy issues that are favorable to shippers on Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has affirmed several key rulings involving creditworthy issues that are favorable to shippers on Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.

In response to a case forged in the extreme wholesale natural gas price volatility times of December 2000, the California Public Utilities Commission Thursday took the middle ground in applying its policy restricting the switching of large commercial/industry customers back and forth between non-core and core status. In the latter case, customers want utility protection when gas rates spike.

FERC last Wednesday “split the baby” in a series of long-awaited rulings on the western energy crisis, giving both sides reason to cheer and scowl. The agency, on one hand, revoked the marketing authorizations for Enron Corp. subsidiaries and launched show-cause enforcement actions against nearly 60 energy companies for potential gaming of the California market, while at the same time it rejected efforts by California and other western utilities to overturn contracts worth an estimated $12 billion that were negotiated at the height of the market turmoil two years ago.

FERC on Wednesday issued a series of long-awaited rulings aimed at putting the western energy crisis behind the nation and the industry. The Commission revoked the marketing authorizations for Enron Corp. subsidiaries, launched show-cause enforcement actions against nearly 60 energy companies for potential gaming of the California market, while at the same time rejecting efforts by California and other western utilities to overturn high-priced contracts that were negotiated at the height of the market turmoil two years ago.