Utility

In an effort to help meet the growing demands for natural gas in British Columbia and in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, BC Gas Utility Ltd. said it is actively pursuing a plan to build the Inland Pacific Connector, an expansion of the company’s Southern Crossing Pipeline. Southern Crossing began service in late November 2000 (see NGI, Dec. 11, 2000).

With legislative action at a standstill, the California PublicUtilities Commission (CPUC) may pick up the ball and run with it.CPUC President Loretta Lynch said Monday the commission will votetoday on a 30% electric retail rate increase (3 cents/kWh) goingforward and three other measures designed to stabilize thecash-strapped investor-owned utilities and assure power supplieswill continue to flow.

The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) still intends to press FERC for a finding of affiliate abuse and tariff violations in the El Paso Natural Gas pipeline case, said CPUC Attorney Harvey Morris (see NGI, March 5), despite El Paso Merchant Energy’s decision to turnback on May 31 most of the 1.2 Bcf/d of firm space it has held on its affiliated pipeline system.

The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) still intends topress FERC for a finding of affiliate abuse and tariff violationsin the El Paso Natural Gas pipeline case, said CPUC Attorney HarveyMorris (see Daily GPI, Feb. 28), despite El Paso Merchant Energy’sdecision to turn back on May 31 most of the 1.2 Bcf/d of firm spaceit has held on its affiliated pipeline system.

While the California governor’s press people were promising anannouncement and then reneging late Thursday afternoon, at leastone other power supplier, Williams, announced signing a 10-year,1,400-MW deal with the state water resources department (DWR).Meanwhile, supply shortages eased considerably yesterday for thefirst time in about six weeks.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved atentative settlement agreement with Equitable Gas Co. following anexplosion in September 1998 that killed one person. The explosionoccurred after an Equitable employee failed to accurately mark agas line to a home for repair by Duquesne Light Co. Duquesne Lightthen damaged the line, which caused the explosion in McKeesport,PA.

For a change Pacific Gas & Electric had more gas in itssystem than it wanted. The dual utility had a systemwide Stage 3high-inventory OFO with zero tolerance for positive dailyimbalances in effect Monday but did not extend the order intotoday.

Record demand of 659 MMcf/d last week on San Diego Gas &Electric’s system forced the utility to curtail about 120 MMcf/d ofdeliveries to six interruptible customers, including two powergenerators and four commercial and industrial customers in SouthernCalifornia, SDG&E spokesman Art Larson said. Demand on thesystem Thursday would have exceeded SDG&E’s capacity withoutthe curtailments.

Record demand of 659 MMcf/d earlier this week on San Diego Gas& Electric’s system forced the utility to curtail about 120MMcf/d of deliveries to six interruptible customers, including twopower generators and four commercial and industrial customers inSouthern California, a spokesman said yesterday. Demand on thesystem yesterday would have exceeded SDG&E’s capacity withoutthe curtailments, said SDG&E spokesman Art Larson.