Work

When Texas debuts electricity deregulation in 2002, the statewon’t have the power shortages or high electricity rates likeCalifornia has experienced in the past few months, but some partsof the state may be effectively locked out of competition becauseof an aging transmission and distribution system.

The price see-saw continued yesterday in the natural gas pit atNymex as traders made quick work of Tuesday’s advance with a latesession sell-off. The August contract was dealt the most severeblow, tumbling 16 cents to finish at $3.884. Estimated volume wasmoderate, with 71,148 contracts changing hands.

After spending more than C$60 million (US$41 million) and threeyears of preliminary work, the sponsors of the upstream portion ofthe Millennium Pipeline Project have decided to put the regulatoryreview process in Canada on indefinite hold.

After spending more than C$60 million (US$41 million) and threeyears of preliminary work, the sponsors of the upstream portion ofthe Millennium Pipeline Project have decided to put the regulatoryreview process in Canada on indefinite hold.

El Paso postponed to an indefinite date Guadalupe Stationmaintenance that had been set for today and Wednesday. Wenden Aturbine work began Sunday, one day earlier than previouslyannounced, and will run through Friday, reducing Havasu Crossovercapacity by 100 MMcf/d, the pipeline said.

PPL Global, a subsidiary of Pennsylvania based PPL Corp.announced plans to build a 600 MW natural gas-fired generationplant on Long Island, NY. The proposed $300 million facility willbe located on a 15 acre site in Smithtown, which is currently beingused as a sand and gravel operation. PPL Global is planning tobuild up to 12 gas-fired units for this project. “With thecontinued growth of Long Island, there is an acknowledged need foradditional competitive electricity sources. These proposed unitswill provide significant additional electricity to these residentsin a way that is environmentally and aesthetically sensitive forarea residents and cost effective for PPL Global,” said PaulChampagne, PPL Global president. The facility site is positionednear the Iroquois pipeline, as well as other major transmissionlines. Pending approvals from state and local agencies,ground-breaking is expected to begin in 2001, with an approximateoperational date of June, 2002.

The GRI’s latest report indicates producers won’t run out ofwork anytime soon in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB),which is estimated to have 166 Tcf in new pool potential and a 31.4Tcf reserve appreciation potential. Because of these positiveestimates, the GRI said the region could surpass 8 Tcf ofproduction by 2015.

The GRI’s latest report indicates producers won’t run out ofwork anytime soon in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB),which is estimated to have 166 Tcf in new pool potential and a 31.4Tcf reserve appreciation potential. Because of these positiveestimates, the GRI said the region could surpass 8 Tcf ofproduction by 2015.

In a fiscal year 1999 performance report card submitted toCongress and the White House, the Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission gave itself high marks for furthering competition in thenatural gas and electricity markets last year, citing the mega gasrule (Order 637), the RTO decision (Order 2000) and its FERC Firstinitiative as proof of its progress.