Mirant Corp., Atlanta, Ga., reported completing the acquisition of HEI Power Guam from HEI Power Corp., a unit of Hawaii Electric Industries. Rick Kuester, CEO of Mirant's Asia business group, said the Philippine operations will manage and operate two, 26.5 Mw, oil-fired steam units. The Guam Power Authority will receive the power from the facility and staff the plant. Terms were not disclosed.
Hydro One Inc. and TransEnergie U.S. have formed a partnership to build a 975 Mw high voltage, direct current transmission project beneath Lake Erie between Ontario and the US. The project would link the Hydro One transmission system near Simcoe, Ont., with the American Transmission Systems Inc. network at Ashtabula, Ohio, or the GPU Energy network at Erie West in Pennsylvania. The partners have applied to the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approval of the sale of transmission rights.
Alstom Esca Corp., Bellevue, Wash., reported releasing the latest version of its software linking electricity generators with energy trading desks. The latest version allows an organization owning generator assets, either contractually or full title, to assess in real time whether it is more profitable to generate electricity to supply load requirements or to buy on the open market, Alstom said.
The Michigan Public Service Commission said it will hear comment on a proposal by Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. to raise its gas cost recovery charge Jan. 1. On Aug. 31, 2001, Mich Con filed an application to charge customers $4.54/Mcf once its frozen gas cost factor expires Jan. 1, 2002. Under a 3-year customer choice program, Mich Con's natural gas rates have been frozen at $2.95/Mcf.
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is directing Idaho Power Co. to implement conservation programs in time for this winter's heating season and to use existing resources to cover the costs of the short-term programs. The company had requested a 2-year surcharge to fund the programs. The commission directed the company to use the $43,000/month it gets from the Bonneville Power Administration's conservation and renewable discount to fund the programs.
Thirteen of Georgia's electric membership corporations (EMC) will offer power from renewable energy sources next year through the newly formed Green Power EMC. The EMC will begin by generating power from the methane produced by four landfills in north and middle Georgia. Green Power EMC predicted wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy sources will be added to its generating capacity by 2003.
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission said it will hear a dispute between Public Service Co. and the City of Louisville over a proposed power line upgrade in January. Public Service and the city are at odds over the company's proposed upgrade of an existing 115 kv transmission line that runs between Public Service�s Valmont power plant in Boulder and its Broomfield substation. The city of Louisville wants the company to bury the transmission line, at an additional $8 million cost. Public Service said it would bury the line if the city pays the extra cost.
The Michigan Public Service Commission granted electricAmerica, a unit of Commonwealth Energy Corp., a license as an alternative electric supplier to sell electric generation to Michigan retail customers. The commission has approved 11 previous licenses. Most retail customers of electric utilities can choose an alternative supplier by Jan. 1.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a regulatory conference with Dominion Resources Inc.'s Virginia Power, operator of the Surry nuclear power plant near Surry, Va., Nov. 30. The NRC said a safety inspection found failed components in an emergency diesel generator which is shared by the two units at the plant. It said the finding appeared to have substantial safety significance because the components could have caused the generator to fail, if it had been required to operate for an extended period.
A unit of Consolidated Edison Inc., New York, NY, has selected a unit of Checkfree Corp., Atlanta, Ga., to provide electronic billing and statements via the internet, Checkfree reported. ConEdison Solutions customers can view their bill, review current and outstanding account balances, and access full bill detail from their personal computers.