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When electric deregulation begins in Texas next January, thestate’s largest utilities, Reliant Energy Inc. and TXU Corp., mayhold an unfair advantage because they own natural gas distributioncompanies. To level the playing field, the Texas Public UtilitiesCommission is working to amend the Gas Utilities Regulatory Act,and once formal legislation is introduced, the state’s smallerutilities are expected to lobby for its passage.

When electric deregulation begins in Texas next January, thestate’s largest utilities, Reliant Energy Inc. and TXU Corp., mayhold an unfair advantage because they own natural gas distributioncompanies. To level the playing field, the Texas Public UtilitiesCommission is working to amend the Gas Utilities Regulatory Act,and while no formal legislation has yet been introduced, thestate’s smaller utilities will lobby for its passage.

Commissioner William Massey will take over the reins at FERCwhen Chairman James J. Hoecker steps down this week after more thanseven years at the agency. His term will begin Jan. 19.

Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles’ State of the State address last week centered on what could become the legacy of his administration: an 1,800-mile natural gas pipeline to transport the state’s 36 Tcf to the marketplace. With energy prices and energy consumption bursting at the seams, Knowles is dedicating the remainder of his term, which expires in 2003, to the gas project.

If the Energy Information Agency (EIA) was envisioning a smoothroad ahead when it filed for an emergency approval from the Officeof Management and Budget for a new energy survey in the Northeast,the agency is in for a rude awakening.

If the Energy Information Agency (EIA) was envisioning a smoothroad ahead when it filed for an emergency approval from the Officeof Management and Budget for a new energy survey in the Northeast,the agency is in for a rude awakening.

Regional Reliability Councils and their members are about 90%compliant, but work still needs to be done to bring standards upand encourage non-members to join, according to the latest reportfrom the North American Electricity Reliability Council. NERC haspublished its findings for the second of four phases of its Year2000 Compliance Program, created to ensure adherence to NERC andregional standards.

The same day that Avista Corp.’s utility affiliate filed arequest for a natural gas price adjustment with the Oregon PublicUtility Commission, the state’s largest provider, Portland GeneralElectric, rescinded its own request last week for a 17.1% rate hikethat would have taken effect next month.

For the third trading session in a row, natural gas futuresopened higher yesterday, but unlike Monday when prices driftedlower, the movement was positive Tuesday as traders positionedthemselves ahead of today’s storage report and the continuation ofunseasonably cold temperatures.