NGI The Weekly Gas Market Report

Fearing the potential side effects of waivers on the interstatemarket, FERC last week decided to give Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) onlya short-term extension of its waivers to Commission regulations topreserve the “status quo” of retail gas unbundling in Georgia whileit explores other non-waiver solutions for utilities.

While AGL Resources reported markedly improved results for itsthird fiscal quarter ended June 30, the company said returns werehurt by costs due to the rapid pace at which Atlanta Gas Lightcustomers have chosen alternate suppliers.

ScottishPower PLC and PacifiCorp announced they have brokered asettlement in principle with the staff of the Oregon Public UtilityCommission (OPUC) that essentially clears the way for the firstacquisition by a foreign company of a U.S. power utility.

TransCanada PipeLines has announced an agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) to build a direct connection between the rapidly developing reserves in the southern part of the territories and the TransCanada mainline.

Columbia Energy Group won a small victory last week when the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware denied NiSource’s motion for expedited discovery in its federal case against Columbia. Meanwhile, NiSource raised legal pressure with yet another suit filed in the state Chancery Court in Delaware. By increasing the legal pressure while pushing its $68/share tender offer to Columbia shareholders, NiSource believes it can force Columbia officials to the negotiating table.

Once touted as a quick fix for peak demand in the Northeast,salt cavern storage has stumbled over the problem of what do withthe salt that is removed to make the cavern, which appears to beabout as popular as nuclear waste. At this point one project hasbeen delayed and two others appear to have stalled.

The chips are stale; the drinks are flat, and people areleaving. The New York Mercantile Exchange electricity futurescontracts aren’t very festive, and now the host is wondering whatit can do to liven up the party.

Producers active in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, which is fastbecoming the most prodigious play in the nation, breathed acollective sigh of relief last week when FERC gave WyomingInterstate Co. Inc. (WIC) the go-ahead to construct its MedicineBow connecting lateral that will enable it to tap into thebountiful coal-bed methane (CBM) reserves in the region. Withoutit, producers said they would be forced to shut in production ofCBM gas for the long term.

The Senate last week confirmed Commissioner Curt Hebert Jr. to anew five-year term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Histerm expires in June 2004.