No FERC Policy Requires ANR Pipeline to Give Original Natural Gas Shipper a Right to Match in Open Season Bidding for Capacity Requested by that Shipper; Commission Addresses Matching Right of Shippers Holding Longer Term Pre-Arranged Deals

摘要

A FERC letter order issued January 29 dismissed concerns raised by Integrys Gas Group and affirmed that to the extent ANR Pipeline Co. (RP15-274) initiates an open season in response to a shipper request for service commencing within 6 months there is no Commission policy that requires the pipeline to give the original requesting shipper the right to match the highest bid submitted in the open season. Because the parties that “value the capacity most” will submit the highest valued bids in the open season, the order affirmed that ANR’s proposal is consistent with the existing policy awarding capacity to the party that values it the most. The Commission assumes that the pipeline will act in its own economic interest and seek the highest possible rate from non- affiliated shippers. (Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., 2011).