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Setting aside vociferous local opposition from nearby propertyowners and a proposed denial from one of its administrative lawjudges (ALJ), the California Public Utilities Commission Thursdaygave the go-ahead to a proposed $80 million underground natural gasstorage field near Lodi in Northern California.

California regulators yesterday approved a settlement dealingwith Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s imbalance procedures andoperational flow orders (OFO). Regulators, however, did not act onthe much tougher issues included in the proposed interim andcomprehensive settlements filed earlier this year by SouthernCalifornia Gas (SoCalGas).

Kansas-based Western Resources is exploring “several strategicalternatives” for its electric utility operations, which includefinding a merger partner as it attempts to separate its regulatedand unregulated assets and strengthen its market position. If amerger partner can’t be found, Western plans to look at otheroptions for its two electric utilities, KPL and KGE. It may form astrategic alliance with other companies, partner with anotherelectric or gas utility or possibly even sell them outright.

Utility.com has signed up Sempra Energy Trading to become thepreferred wholesale natural gas provider behind the growing retailenergy and communications website.

A dispute has erupted in the Canadian courts between affiliatesMobil Oil and the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. Maritimes hasfiled a lawsuit with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court against Mobil,seeking C$3.29 million, plus C$100,000 in general damages,interest, legal costs and all out-of-pocket expenses.

Although officials at the Northeast Power Coordinating Council(NPCC), which oversees electric power grid reliability forNortheastern North America, are forecasting sufficient electricitysupplies to meet demand this summer, they cautioned yesterday thatreserves are low.

To prepare for the coming peak period of electricityconsumption, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) hasannounced it will monitor the state’s wholesale electric marketduring this first summer of its operation. The market now isadministered by the New York Independent System Operator (NY ISO),an independent non-profit organization that operates the state’sbulk power system and administers a competitive wholesale marketfor electricity.

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker indicated earlier this week thattransmission-owning utilities are intentionally submitting sub-parcompliance filings in response to the Commission’s regionaltransmission organization (RTO) rule to delay the onslaught of fullcompetition in the bulk power market for as long as possible.

The dazzling increases in cash prices Thursday certainly failedto surprise anybody who was paying attention Wednesday afternoon tothe storage report and the screen’s subsequent skyrocketingperformance.