Vote

While THE vote count continues and with little change dictatedby the elections in the energy leadership in the House and Senate,energy industry pundits were at leisure to explore energy policyscenarios under Democratic or Republican regimes and potentialcandidates to fill the top slots in either eventuality.

As an interim measure, the Cal ISO board last week approved (ona 13-10 vote) a load differentiated price cap that was promoted bya consumer advocate representative on the badly splinteredstakeholder board. The action drew swift criticism from generators.

Within hours of a FERC vote yesterday ratifying proposed changesin its interruptible transportation (IT) queue, PG&E GasTransmission Northwest announced new procedures effective today.

The National Energy Marketers Association’s (NEM) executivecommittee will vote on a final draft of a National EnergyTechnology Policy at the group’s Industry Leadership Roundtable onOct. 30 and 31 in The Woodlands, TX in an attempt to implementuniform internet standards and tax incentives to upgrade the U.S.energy infrastructure.

Fueled by positive expiration-day price action last Friday andprodded by continued anticipation of higher prices this summer,natural gas futures shuffled higher yesterday as bulls gave a warmbuying welcome to the new spot contract April. With that boost theApril contract closed up 6.9 cents at $2.686 while the summer stripwas up 5.3 cents at $2.721.

Moving another step closer to becoming a privately-held company,MidAmerican Energy announced yesterday that its shareholdersoverwhelmingly approved the company’s proposed sale to BerkshireHathaway Inc. The company anticipates receiving all requiredapprovals in the first quarter of this year.

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved the proposedmerger of Wisconsin Energy Corp. and WICOR by a vote of 3-0. Thedeal still requires clearance from the Federal Trade Commission andSecurities and Exchange Commission. Nov. 2, the companies said theFTC had requested additional information in connection with theirHart-Scott-Rodino filing. Both companies have supplied additionalinformation and documentation in response to the request.

The Public Service Commission of Georgia (PSC) will vote thisweek on how to dispense the more than $30 million owed by AtlantaGas Light (AGL) to its customers. The utility accrued the extrafunds by over-collecting on the purchased gas cost section of thebill.

Although the merger of Exxon and Mobil has raised the eyebrowsof at least two states, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) isexpected to vote today to approve the $81 billion deal to createone of the world’s largest energy companies. The deal includes aproposal to sell about 2,400 gas stations nationwide, and at leastConnecticut and New Hampshire are concerned. Although ConnecticutAttorney General Richard Blumenthal opposes the deal, he told theAssociated Press it is unlikely a single state could block themerger and it also is unlikely a coalition of states will form tochallenge the deal.