Daily GPI

Wisconsin Energy Corp.’s proposal to build and rebuild powerplants in the state is a little less certain today after thecompany threatened to pull the plug on its $6 billion proposal ifit is not allowed to spin off its power plants into an unregulatedsubsidiary.

Showing a carrot, but keeping a “stick” in reserve, CaliforniaGov. Gray Davis Friday outlined for federal regulators steps hewill pursue to fix the state’s ailing wholesale electricity market,stopping short of proposing a state takeover, but hinting he willgo further if federal measures fall short.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week basicallytold El Paso Natural Gas to continue full-steam ahead on itsreallocation process at the Topock, AZ, delivery point at theSouthern California border despite pleas by Southern California Gasthat its ratepayers could suffer irreparable harm from the plan.

Will there be fewer holiday lights this season in Wisconsin?More woodburning fires? Wisconsin Public Service Corp., a unit ofWPS Resources Corp., warned Friday that its natural gas customersmay see a 17% hike in their energy bills this month because of thelatest increase in wholesale gas prices. WPSC said that its averageresidential customer would pay nearly 57% more overall this yearthan last, about $50 total.

WPS Resources Corp. filed a proposal last week with Wisconsinregulators requiring that all new electric generation be suppliedby independent power producers instead of utilities. The filingfollowed an announcement earlier in the week by the state’s largestenergy provider, Wisconsin Energy, which wants to build 1,700 MW by2010 under its Power the Future plan, and which has opposed the IPPplan.

About four months after FPL Group announced its intentions topurchase Entergy Corp. for $13.9 billion, the companies reported thatthey have jointly filed an application with the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission for approval of the union which would create thelargest utility in the nation (see Daily GPI, Aug. 1).

Energy Search Inc. has finalized an agreement with SouthernProducer Services LP, a subsidiary of Southern Energy Inc., toextend the funding of its capital expenditure program for 2001. Aspart of the agreement, Southern pre-approved 60 wells to be funded.Energy Search, based in Knoxville, TN, plans to drill 75 wells nextyear for about $11.5 million, primarily natural gas reserves in theAppalachian Basin. Energy Search CEO Charles P. Torrey said theagreement with Southern allows the company to “expand and expediteour aggressive drilling program.” He added that Southern had been”vital” to the company’s drilling schedule, and said he consideredSouthern’s commitment “a validation of our business developmentplan for the coming year.”

Sonat said it planned to implement an OFO Type 3 for sevendelivery groups Sunday and was anticipating it would beallocating/limiting interruptible capacity for the ChattanoogaGroup and North Alabama Group until further notice. Based onweather forecasts and projected demand, it is likely that the OFOand allocations will remain in effect through at least the end oftoday’s gas day, the pipeline said Friday. Nine groups on Sonat’sSouth Georgia system became subject to an OFO Type 22 Sunday.

Except for declines at several of the highest-priced westernpoints, the cash market stayed in an upbeat mood Friday. Gainsranged from about a dime to more than 30 cents, with most between20 and 30 cents. Malin joined the three primary Pacific Northwestpoints (Sumas, Stanfield and Kingsgate) in falling from their loftyheights.