[BETA] Fortnightly

GAS COMPETITION PLAN. Colorado releases framework for rate and service unbundling for natural gas LDCs, which includes: treatment of stranded cost, utility affiliate participation in the competitive market and supplier obligations. Docket No. 97I-0336, Aug. 19, 1997 (Colo.P.U.C.).

Local Telco Rates. Idaho directs USWEST Communications Inc. to reduce annual revenues by $327,000 and approves proposal to compensate ratepayers $4.2 million for yellow pages revenues. It also sets the rate of return on equity at 11.2 percent.Case No. USW-S-96-5, Order No. 27100, Aug, 12, 1997 (Idaho.P.U.C.).

Core Gas Procurement. Despite possibility of rate shock (in changing from annual to monthly forecasting of gas commodity costs for core customers), California allows San Diego Gas and Electric Co. to remove a cap on gas procurement rates and to recover any undercollections through a non-bypassable charge. Application 97-02-022, Decision 97-07-061, July 16, 1997 (Cal.P.U.C.).

Gas Curtailment Steps. Anticipating possible gas supply shortages for the winter (if the new Portland Natural Gas Transmission System is delayed), Northern Utilities Inc. wins approval to modify tariffs to allow it to deny new customer load or requests for expansion from existing customers, to conserve gas supplies. Docket No. 97-311, July 8, 1997 (Me.P.U.C.).

Stand-by Gas Service. Virginia OKs plan by Roanoke Gas Co. to set up a new supplemental interruptible sales program to supply gas to interruptible transportation customers when third-party gas is unavailable. All associated costs are billed to the customer. Case No. PUE970424, Aug. 14, 1997 (Va.S.C.C.).

Aircraft Operating Costs. New Mexico rejects request by Zia Natural Gas Co. to recover from ratepayers the cost of operating an aircraft it had recently purchased. The commission says the LDC failed to prove need. Case No. 2745, Aug. 25, 1997 (N.M.P.S.C.).

QF Contract Lengths. Idaho grants request by Idaho Power Co. to extend a five-year limit on QF contract length to small QFs (smaller than 1 megawatt) that already applied to larger projects. Case No. IPC-E-97-9, Order No. 2711, Aug. 28, 1997 (Idaho P.U.C.).

QF Contract Approval. California says Pacific Gas & Electric Co. can continue to pursue multi-year agreements to restructure QF contracts without seeking prior commission approval of each new deal. Decision 97-08-016, R. 94-04-031, I.94-04-032, Aug. 1, 1997 (Cal.P.U.C.).

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