The Northwest Power Planning Council is accepting comments on a revision of its Fourth Northwest Power Plan through Oct. 31. The plan is the latest created by the council since 1983. It reviews industry developments in generation, conservation, gas and electric. It also examines institutions created in response to increasing competition and policy evolution. The draft reflects recommendations of the Comprehensive Review of the Northwest Energy System and suggests ways to carry out many of those recommendations. For a copy (Document 97-11), call (800) 222-3355.

The Tennessee Valley Authority unveiled a 10-year business plan that calls for a 50-percent cut in its $27.6 billion debt. The plan also sets a target of reducing power costs 15 percent by 2007. The "Ten Year Business Outlook" recommends, however, a price increase in the 1998 fiscal year that would produce $325 million in additional revenue. TVA plans to reduce fuel, supply and labor costs, meaning a reduction of about 725 employees. Proposed power contract changes would give customers more flexibility. If the price increase is approved, then it would be effective Oct. 1. Goals for 2007 are to reduce wholesale power cost from 4.11 to 3.46 cents per kilowatt-hour.

ISO New England contracted Andersen Consulting to develop the systems, training and processes needed for NEPOOL's transition to a competitive electricity market. ISO New England expects to be the first ISO in the U.S. pending an April 1, 1998 FERC approval. The terms of the agreement were not released. An Andersen Consulting company, Utiligent, also recently was selected by a New England natural gas utility, Colonial Gas Co., for customer contract billing, market segmentation, non-energy product marketing and other services.

The Energy Council of Rhode Island has endorsed a proposal to supply deregulated electricity to qualified members through the rest of the year. The council includes more than 80 of the state's largest power users. New Energy Ventures will supply the electricity until a utility standard offer proposal is approved by the state PUC. Approval is tentatively planned for Jan. 1, 1998.

AES Corp. plans to contract Westinghouse Electric Corp. to build a 484-megawatt power plant in Merida, Mexico. Westinghouse says the combined cycle plant will be the country's first independent power project. Primary fuel will be natural gas; diesel is the back up. The terms of the agreement weren't disclosed, but includes a 20-year maintenance contract. Commercial operation is set for February 2000. Westinghouse also was contracted by a Chinese company to supply two 50-megawatt combustion turbines, residual fuel oil generators. Guangzhou Mingzhu C Electric Power Co. expects to begin operation of the plant in early 1999.

Peoples Energy, an unregulated energy supplier to homes and small businesses in Pennsylvania, has changed its name to Peoples Plus.

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