Energy In-depth: Southwest Power Pool to celebrate 75th anniversary next week
by October 21, 2016 4:37 am 165 views
Editor’s note: Each Friday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Energy In-depth,” a round-up of energy and regulatory news.
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SOUTHWEST POWER POOL TO CELEBRATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY NEXT WEEK
Southwest Power Pool (SPP) will be hosting a gala at 6:30 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 24) at the Little Rock convention center in celebration of the Little Rock grid operator’s 75th anniversary. To meet the demand for power during World War II, 11 regional utilities joined together on Dec. 16, 1941, officially forming the SPP, just eight days after Congress declared war on Japan.
As a non-profit organization serving 18 million people across 14 states, SPP works together with its member companies to manage the electric grid throughout the central United States, plan transmission infrastructure, and operate a wholesale electric market that has saved its members over a billion dollars.
In recognition of its 75th anniversary, SPP is inviting member company officers, government officials, and community leaders to attend its anniversary gala. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Commissioner Colette Honorable will speak about the impact of the organization.
The Arkansas Symphony will perform a piece created for the event. Author Nathania Sawyer will be on hand as her book on the history of SPP, “The Power of Relationships”, will be unveiled.
ENTERGY SELECTS HONEYWELL TO INSTALL 2.9 MILLION ADVANCE METERS FOR UTILITY CUSTOMERS IN ARKANSAS, OTHER STATES
Commercial and consumer products giant Honeywell said it has been hired by Entergy Services Inc., the management and administrative subsidiary of New Orleans-based Entergy Corp., to lead an advanced meter project to help improve electricity service and reliability for the utility giant’s operating companies’ customers across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Entergy’s entire $250 million project, which is subject to regulatory and other approvals, would include the installation of up to 2.9 million integrated advanced meters to facilitate better data-sharing between the Entergy operating companies and their customers for more reliable electricity delivery and improved energy management.
Honeywell said it will provide up to 2.3 million of the advanced meters, which can facilitate automated meter reading, a move expected to drive operational efficiencies, and help the Entergy operating companies more quickly and accurately detect and resolve customer outages.
SHELL OIL SELLS CANADIAN OIL, GAS ASSETS FOR $1 BILLION, PLANS TO FOCUS ON NORTH AMERICAN, ARGENTINA SHALE PLAYS
Royal Dutch Shell plc, through its affiliate Shell Canada Energy, announced Thursday (Oct. 20) it has agreed to sell approximately 206,000 net acres of non-core oil and gas properties in Western Canada to Tourmaline Oil Corp. for more than $1 billion. The deal, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016 and is comprised of $758 million in cash and Tourmaline shares valued at $279 million.
The acreage includes 61,000 net acres in the Gundy area of Northeast British Columbia, Canada, and 145,000 net acres in the Deep Basin area of West Central Alberta, Canada. The assets are a combination of developed and undeveloped lands, along with related infrastructure, producing 24,850 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) of dry gas and liquids. Shell has a large shales portfolio focused on North America and Argentina, and is currently maturing this portfolio as a growth option for beyond 2020 with material value and substantial long-term potential.