Worded

The inspector general (IG) of the Department of Interior (DOI) issued a strongly worded report on the Minerals Management Service (MMS) late Tuesday, noting that the agency displays a conflict of interest in its relationship with the energy industry and is running a flawed oil and natural gas royalty-in-kind (RIK) program.

In emergency requests filed last week, Pacific Gas and Electric(PG&E) and Southern California Edison delivered strongly-wordedultimatums to FERC – either suspend the authority of sellers tocharge market-based rates in the out-of-control California bulkpower market by a certain deadline, or they would take their casesto the Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington D.C.

In an emergency request filed Wednesday, Pacific Gas andElectric (PG&E) delivered a strongly-worded ultimatum to FERC -either revoke the authority for sellers to charge market-basedrates in the out-of-control California bulk power market and takeother actions by “no later than the close of business on Dec. 21,”or it will seek relief from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals inWashington. At press time Thursday, the Commission had notresponded to the utility’s demands.