Yesterday

FERC yesterday gave Egan Hub Partners L.P. the green light to expand the maximum operating capacity of its two-cavern facility in Louisiana by 5.5 Bcf.

Former Pennsylvania regulator Nora Mead Brownell was sworn in as a FERC commissioner yesterday, filling out the ranks of the five-member federal agency. Brownell will be attending today’s regular open FERC meeting, although she has said she will not be voting.

Xcel Energy reported yesterday that it is expecting sizeable earnings growth through the next two years while realizing increased savings from the merger that formed the company in August 2000, when Minneapolis-based Northern States Power and Denver-based New Century Energies merged (see Daily GPI, Aug. 18, 2000). Xcel Energy CEO Wayne Brunetti reiterated previous statements that the company is growing rapidly due in part to the independent electricity generating company, NRG Energy, in which Xcel holds nearly a 75% stake.

The proposed Sonoran Pipeline project crossed its first hurdle yesterday as potential shippers expressed interest in an adequate amount of capacity on the proposed 1,030-mile gas pipeline. However, the market seemed to make those hurdles a bit taller as gas prices closed in on $2 in the Rockies and plummetting to nearly $5 at the border.

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham announced yesterday that the Department of Energy (DOE) will provide partial funding for 11 government-industry collaborative projects aimed at upgrading the safety and performance of the nation’s natural gas interstate and intrastate transportation systems.

Positioning itself to become a major regional energy player, DTE Energy yesterday announced the closing of its approximately $3.9 billion merger with MCN Energy Group. The completion of the merger finishes a process that kicked off in October 1999 (see Daily GPI, October 6, 1999).

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) yesterday expressed confidence that both New York City and the state as a whole should be able to avoid blackouts this summer, but then acknowledged the Big Apple will have a “razor-thin” positive margin starting in July.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. formally announced its expansion plans yesterday a few days after testifying at FERC about growth on its system and the need for additional transportation and storage capacity (see Daily GPI, May 29). The utility company is holding an open season in June and July for capacity on its in-state California transmission system. Complete open season packages will be available June 12 at www.pge.com/pipeline.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission picked up some kudos from Wall Street yesterday for “providing regulatory certainty and consistency, with incentives for growth and risk-taking.” The Commission should “stay the course,” Curt Launer, veteran energy analyst for Credit Suisse First Boston testified at the Commission’s technical conference on the California Natural Gas Transportation Infrastructure.