Less than one day after the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio(PUCO) threw its support behind the NiSource/Columbia Energy Groupmerger, three groups of Ohio schools urged the commission to make afull review of the proposal. On Tuesday, PUCO authorized a letterto the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that statedthe proposed merger would have no impact on its ability to protectthe interests of Columbia Gas of Ohio ratepayers. However, theschools are not as confident.
utilities
Articles from utilities
Spin-down of Trunkline Line Comes Under Fire
Producers and utilities last week registered strong protests toTrunkline Gas Co.’s proposal to spin down 720 miles of its 26-inchdiameter natural gas mainline to an affiliate, saying that whilethis action may be in the pipeline’s best interest it’s not “in thepublic interest.”
NYSEG, Central Maine Get Merger Nod
FERC last week gave its seal of approval to the $6.4 billionmarriage of two major northeastern utilities — Energy East Corp.,parent of New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), and CMP Group,parent of Central Maine Power — putting them clearly on the pathto becoming a major force in the Northeast energy market.
DOE: Legislation Must Address Market Power
Federal legislation is the only means to protect consumers forthe exercise of market power by dominant generators and utilitiesin competitive electricity markets, according to a U.S. Departmentof Energy report. The report says companies owning abundantgeneration in a local market may face few competitors afterrestructuring, allowing them to exercise market power and chargehigher prices.
FGT Expansion OK’d Without Duke Plant Link
In its order (CP99-94) approving the downsized project last week, FERCnoted that FGT had amended its plan and cut facilities for the New SmyrnaBeach Lateral that would have served a trailblazing 514 MW merchant powerplant proposed by Duke Energy and approved by the Florida Public ServiceCommission. The PSC’s certification of the power plant was appealed bythe IOUs in a case that currently is lodged in the state Supreme Court.A Duke spokesman said the company was confident its New Smyrna Beach PowerPlant ultimately would be approved, but it has dropped back from FGT’sPhase IV expansion due to go into service in May, 2001 to its Phase V expansiondue in 2002 (see NGI, Dec. 6).
FGT Expansion OK’d Without Duke Plant Link
Florida Gas Transmission received the go-ahead for constructionof its Phase IV expansion to serve investor-owned utilities (IOUs)and industrials in Florida, minus capacity that would have servedthe state’s first merchant power plant.
Alberta Approves Distance-Based Tolls on TransCanada
A sweeping new distance-based tolling system for TransCanada’sAlberta System was approved by the Alberta Energy and UtilitiesBoard (AEUB) on Friday. The new products and pricing receipt-pointstructure for gas transportation tolls and services will beginreplacing Nova’s old postage-stamp tolling method starting in Apriland will be phased in over four years.
Industry Briefs
Energy America, the Sempra Energy affiliate that was forced by NewJersey’s Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to halt retail activitiesbecause of slamming charges last December, reached a final agreementwith the NJBPU and New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (NJDCA)that will allow it to resume efforts to sign up New Jersey residentialand small-business customers. Under the settlement, Energy Americawill contribute $140,000 each to the NJBPU and NJDCA to furtherconsumer education on energy deregulation and to fund futureinvestigative and enforcement activities. By March Energy America willbegin to deliver electricity to its customers, when local utilityPublic Service Electric & Gas is expected to complete theelectronic switchover for customer accounts. After the Sempraaffiliate halted its activities in December, it spent five weeksrevising its marketing and training materials (see Daily GPI, Jan. 21)
Xcel Energy Marriage Gets FERC Nod
New Century Energies Inc. (NCE) of Denver and Minneapolis-basedNorthern States Power (NSP), two mid-sized combination utilities,got the go-ahead from FERC last week for their marriage that willcover a wide swath of the natural gas and electricity markets inthe Midwest and Southwest. The $4.8 billion merger will create the8th largest utility in the nation, serving more than 4.5 millionnatural gas and power customers in 12 states from Canada to Mexico.
Xcel Energy Marriage Gets FERC Nod
New Century Energies Inc. (NCE) of Denver and Minneapolis-basedNorthern States Power Co. (NSP), two mid-sized combinationutilities, got the go-ahead from FERC yesterday for their marriagethat will cover a wide swath of the natural gas and electricitymarkets in the Midwest and Southwest. The $4.8 billion merger willcreate the 8th largest utility in the nation, serving more than 4.5million natural gas and power customers in 12 states from Canada toMexico.