Perspective
In August, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued rules to show how new competitors can enter the local markets for telecommunications (em forever relegating local telephone monopolies to that switchboard in the sky.
Fortnightly Magazine - October 15 1996
Vehicle Refueling Stations Still Not Exempt
While permitting Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas and Electric Co.
Byline:
Phillip S. Cross
Marketing & Competing
There's more to meeting marketing challenges than first meets the eye.
Imagine you've just taken over as chief executive officer (CEO) of a $1-billion gas utility in a major metropolitan market.
Byline:
James R. Pierobon and Adam Findeisen
LEC's Anti-slamming Program Draws Fire
The Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed Ameritech Michigan, a telecommunications local exchange carrier (LEC) to discontinue its advertising campaign for a special program billed as a protection against "slamming" (em i.e., switching a customer's long-distance service without their knowledge or consent.
Byline:
Phillip S. Cross
A Round Robin of Residential Unbundling
Whether you're a utility commissioner in Wyoming or Georgia, a v.p. for a leading marketer, or a commission division director in New Jersey, you share a common activity: learning by the seat of your pants about deregulating gas markets. In this gas forum, PUBLIC UTILITIES FORTNIGHTLY highlights developments across the nation.
Byline:
Joseph F. Schuler, Jr.
Bureaucrats, Pols Spar on DOE's Future
Sec. O'Leary says "strategic alignment" is trimming the budget;
GAO remains unsure whether Department is "truly committed."
Department of Energy (DOE) officials and like-minded politicians joined to defend the agency against Senate and House bills that would dismantle the department (em and its $17-billion annual price tag.
On September 4, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources conducted hearings on S. 1678, The Department of Energy Abolishment Act.
Byline:
Joseph F. Schuler, Jr.
Leasing "Dark" Fiber: Not a Telecom Service
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has ruled that the leasing of "dark" optical fibers in telecommunications cable facilities owned by Idaho Power Co.
Byline:
Phillip S. Cross
Generation, Deregulation, and Market Power: Will Antitrust Laws Fill the Void?
Monopoly rents? Not in the short run. The real enemy is a price war, fueled by indifference to stranded costs. And when that happens, antitrust laws won't offer much help.Competition has formally begun in the electric service industry. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued Order 888, giving generators access to wholesale loads throughout the nation.
Byline:
Stephen L. Teichler
INGAA Sees Lessons for FERC in Pipeline Stranded Costs
The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) has released a background report from its rate and policy analysis department that compares natural gas and electric restructuring costs. INGAA feels the gas industry experience offers lessons for federal and state regulators as they debate potential stranded costs from electric industry restructuring.
INGAA notes that the interstate pipelines had to adopt open access and provide their customers with choices before their stranded-cost liabilities were settled.
Byline:
Lori A. Burkhart
Maine Oks Jump in Price Cap
The Maine Pubic Utilities Commission (PUC) has allowed Central Maine Power Co. to boost rates by 1.26 percent under an alternative rate plan approved in late 1994. The increase is based in part on an indicated inflation rate of 2.55 percent for the last quarter of 1996.
The PUC found considerable disagreement on whether the rates proposed by the utility would capture the full benefits from restructuring a number of the utility's purchased-power contracts with qualifying cogeneration facilities (QFs).
Byline:
Phillip S. Cross