PUC Again Refuses to Arbitrate Labor Dispute

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has once again turned back an attempt by the Communications Workers of America to invoke state utility regulation to solve labor complaints against Pacific Bell.The union had complained that PacBell's use of lower-paid technicians to perform duties allegedly reserved for higher-paid contract classifications violated the state's public utility code.

Gas LDC Loses Pipeline Bid

The North Carolina Utilities Commission (UC)has granted authority to Frontier Utilities of North Carolina, Inc., to construct and operate a new natural gas pipeline and distribution system to provide service to four counties in the state.

Virginia OKs Pilit for Onsite Generation

The Virginia State Corporation Commission has approved a new pilot program for a "Standby Generation Control System" proposed by Virginia Electric and Power Co. The system would allow the utility to dispatch customer-owned generators at periods of system peak demand.

Maine PUC Hikes Electric Price Cap

The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a 2.43 percent rate increase in the price cap for Central Maine Power Co. (CMP). It also issued findings governing the flow-through to ratepayers of savings earned by restructuring contracts with qualifying cogeneration facilities (QFs).

New Jersey is Cautious on NGV Investment

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has once again refused to grant "blanket approval" of an investment program for natural gas vehicle (NGV) refueling stations proposed by Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G).

Gas DSM Plan Found Deficient

While setting rates for Union Gas Ltd., a natural gas local distribution company (LDC), the Ontario Energy Board has found the company's demand-side management (DSM) plan deficient, and required shareholders to pay for any required remedies. The Board added, however, that denial of the DSM budget would be contrary to the public interest.

It said that the plan as presented was "essentially a marketing plan" for supplying energy efficiency goods and services (em one that fell short of DSM guidelines.

Local Telco Regulation too Broad, Court Says

The Michigan Court of Appeals has directed the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) to expand its deregulation of telecommunications markets in compliance with a 1991 state law revamping telecommunications. It said that the PSC had defined too broadly which types of services should remain regulated under the 1991 law, the Michigan Telecommunications Act (MTAct).

Indiana Rules Coal Law Unconstitutional

Mirroring an earlier opinion by a federal district court, the Indiana Court of Appeals has struck down a state law that allowed regulators to offer special rate treatment and construction project preapproval to utilities that develop clean air compliance plans that would maximize the use of high-sulfur coal mined in the state. The court remanded the case to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and agreed with a prior finding by the U.S. District Court (S.D.