Electric Power news briefs, Nov. 16

Nov. 16, 2001
Public Service Co. of New Mexico ... New Jersey Natural Gas Co. ... PPL Susquehanna ... Massachusetts Electric Co. ... United Illuminating Co. ... Peabody Energy Corp.


Public Service Co. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, said it has begun construction on the 135 Mw gas-fired Afton power plant near Las Cruces. Afton is scheduled to be in commercial operation by the end of October 2002. PNM said it plans to expand the plant to a 225 Mw combined cycle facility by the last quarter of 2003.

New Jersey Natural Gas Co., Wall, NJ, said it asked the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to reduce prices by 12% through a reduction of 11% Dec. 1 and another 1% Jan. 1, 2002. The reduced price primarily reflects the company's gas cost projections in light of current trends on the wholesale gas market.

PPL Susquehanna, a unit of PPL Corp., Allentown, Pa., said because of increased security measures, hunting is prohibited on the woodlands and fields adjacent to the nuclear power plant in Luzerne County near Berwick, Pa. State police and the Pennsylvania National Guard are supporting security forces at Susquehanna and elsewhere across the state in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the company said.

Massachusetts Electric Co., Northborough, Mass., asked the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy to reduce rates 1¢/kw-hr for customers on standard offer service, reflecting lower wholesale power supply costs. If the company's proposal is approved, the rate would fall to 5.6¢/kw-hr.

The United Illuminating Co., New Haven, Conn., said it filed for a review of its existing rates and proposed a new long-term rate plan to Connecticut's Department of Public Utility Control. UI isn't seeking a rate increase and is proposing a rate plan similar to the one in place, that will maintain current rates through Dec. 31, 2007.

Peabody Coaltrade Inc., a unit of Peabody Energy Corp., St. Louis, Mo., said it will expand coal trading through a new terminal on the Big Sandy River near Catlettsburg, Ky. Riverview Terminal, Huntington, W.Va., will be upgraded to blend and transload coal to serve electric generators on the Ohio River. It is expected to begin operations by the second quarter of 2002 and will have a 2.4 million ton/year capacity. Separately, Peabody said it received permits from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to resume operations at its Rawhide Mine in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. Shipments will begin in the first quarter of 2002. The mine's anticipated 8 million ton/year production is committed for 2002, the company said.