Narragansett Electric Co., Providence, RI, said it asked state regulators to lower rates 1¢/kw-hr on the standard offer portion of customers' bills. The lower costs are the result of a decline in oil and gas prices, the company said. If approved, the bills of typical residential standard offer customers using 500 kw-hr/month of electricity will decline 8.1%, or $5.38/month.
AES Corp., Arlington, Va., said a subsidiary has agreed to purchase for $376 million all of PSEG Global's interests in five jointly held businesses in Argentina. AES said 90% of the transaction will be seller-financed by PSEG Global, a unit of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., Newark, NJ, on a nonrecourse basis. AES will be acquiring interests in three distribution companies and two generating companies. The transaction is subject to various closing conditions, including obtaining Argentine regulatory approval and lender consents.
Calpine Corp., San Jose, Calif., said it completed the $810 million purchase of the Saltend Energy Centre, a 1,200 Mw gas-fired power plant at Saltend near Hull, Yorkshire, England, from Entergy Corp., New Orleans, La. The plant began commercial operations in November 2000. Separately, Entergy said commercial operation has begun at the 300 Mw Warren power plant in Vicksburg, Miss., the company's first US wholesale power generating facility. Electricity from the peaking plant is sold at competitive prices to electricity cooperatives, municipalities, and investor-owned utilities, Entergy said.
Mirant Corp., Atlanta, Ga., reported plans to develop a 1,200 Mw gas-fired power plant in Gastonia, NC, subject to regulatory approvals. Construction of the power facility is scheduled to begin early in 2002 with commercial operation scheduled for summer 2004.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved final rules for maintaining natural gas service and minimizing disruptions to customers if emergencies occur under deregulation. The regulations address matters that are critical to emergency planning, such as load shedding, voluntary usage reduction, mandatory usage reduction, periodic reports to the media on emergency situations, and notice to customers and natural gas suppliers.
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.has selected a subsidiary of Constellation Energy Group Inc. to supply electricity to fulfill 90% of BGE's standard offer service to customers from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2006, the final 3 years of the utility's electric deregulation transition period. CPS and BGE are subsidiaries of diversified energy services company Constellation Energy Group, Baltimore, Md.
PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd., Calgary, reported the 85 Mw Cavalier power station has received its commissioning certificate and is now selling electricity to the Alberta Power Pool. PanCanadian Energy Services, the company's gas and power marketing division, will manage the operations of the Cavalier plant. The second phase will produce an additional 20 Mw of power, and will be complete by the end of this year, the company said. When running at capacity, the plant will consume about 20 MMcfd of gas.
American Electric Power Co. Inc., Columbus, Ohio, said it will build a $71.4 million emission control system on one unit of its Muskingum River generating station near Waterford and Beverly, Ohio. When in operation, the selective catalytic reduction system will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from the 585 Mw unit by 85%. Construction is slated to begin within 1 month, and the installation is targeted for completion by May 2003.
The California Energy Commission awarded ICF Consulting, Fairfax, Va., a $2.1 million, 18-month contract to promote renewable energy technologies statewide. Under the contract, ICF will develop and implement a marketing campaign to raise awareness of renewable electricity generation and its benefits, increase purchases of small-scale emerging renewable systems among home and commercial building owners, and leverage strategic alliances and partnerships with organizations connected to renewable energy throughout California.
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp., Orlando, Fla., reported it was awarded the $200 million equipment contract for the 800 Mw Norte Fluminense thermal power plant near Macae, Brazil. Siemens will provide three model W501F advanced gas turbines, three heat recovery steam generators, and one steam turbine for the combined cycle plant. Initial operation is scheduled for late in 2003.