State hunts for goods on energy firms- Lawyers try to show market manipulation

SF Chronicle ^ | 1/19/03 | Mark Martin, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

[randita]

In their last chance to sway federal regulators, California lawyers are mounting a final hunt for evidence showing how energy companies manipulated the state's electricity markets during the 2000-01 energy crisis.

Attorneys for three state agencies and California's two largest utilities have deposed energy traders, reviewed power plant operations data and listened to companies' tape-recorded conversations in preparation for a final report on market manipulation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

[randita]

Three years and they're still hunting.

[Dog Gone]

In Tulsa, Okla., an official of Williams Cos. told an employee of an out-of- service Southern California power plant in April 2000 that "it wouldn't hurt Williams' feelings if the outage ran long" and discussed the fact that it has led to higher power prices. Based on the taped recordings Williams must forfeit $8 million in profits.

This hit piece is intentionally dishonest, and it bugs the heck out of me that the SF Chronicle would do this, because not 1 in 100 will recognize any of these lies.

Take the above example, for instance. A Williams employee did make that statement, but the power plant did NOT stay offline. Williams was fined $8 million for that action, but it didn't lead to a shortage because it was unsuccessful.

The actual facts, though, don't fit in with this reporter's agenda so they are omitted or distorted.

[Orangedog]

...during the 2000-01 energy crisis.

Oh please! Get real. These fools don't know what a real energy crisis is. 2000-01 was a cakewalk compared to the 1970's. Unfortunately, the stage is now set for a REAL energy crisis to start in the next few weeks. The proverbial "perfect storm" is building up in Venezuala (sp) and the Persian Gulf. I hope the White House has plans to tap the strategic oil reserves once the oil slows to a trickle in South America and Saddam torches the oil fields in Iraq. I don't think I'm being alarmist in thinking that once those two factors are in play, that any other disruption in the oil supply chain will (briefly) bring us $80 barrels of oil and $5 unleaded. Too bad that Priceline.com doesn't pre-sell gasoline online anymore. That being said, this problem will work itself out, but it could get ugly for a month or so.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Finally back on line! Cable connection seems to have morning sickness!

Calpowercrisis:

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[snopercod]

This hit piece is intentionally dishonest, and it bugs the heck out of me that the SF Chronicle would do this, because not 1 in 100 will recognize any of these lies.

I saw this article this AM, but didn't post it for just that reason. It is total Barbra Streisand. Each of us calpowercrisis groupies could easily refute every single point the moron tried to make.

But the victims in Northern Kalistan will swallow it hook line and sinker...

[Robert357]

You guys are right on, this is powerful spin handed to a reporter trying to paint a picture.

I just got something across my desk this morning, which is really, really interesting!!!

Robert McCullough, an energy economist in Portland, has written a fascinating 5-page memo showing that the Cal ISO congested its own transmission system, causing blackouts in Northern California during the winter of 2001. Some of you may remember that I have commented about Robert, indicating that he was one of the best energy economists that he was hired by certain utilities and democratic party types and claimed that the California market was manipulated by the BIG evil texas energy companies. He testified to this many times.

In what I consider a real interesting turn of events, he is now saying that the ISO is responsible for the blackouts in California. The reason they are responsible is that the ISO created a false contract that congested the system and was counter to WECC/WSCC rules and did not work as planned.

Specifically, Path 15, was clogged by transmission contract C66, which was an ISO created imaginary transmission contract intended to congest day ahead schedules on the AC intertie. WOW! The ISO Smoking Gun!

Some of the dirty little secrets that the ISO would like hidden can be found in this PDF file!

The truth is really strating to spill out on the california power crisis! As I have said many times before, the Cal ISO is going to have lots and lots of responsibility.

[Dog Gone]

From that report:

The decision to create imaginary congestion in the day ahead market was apparently a part of an illjudged effort to stop energy from leaking out of California. While the implications of this odd strategy are difficult to estimate, it is clear that these imaginary contracts contributed to higher prices in the Pacific Northwest, unnecessarily cancelled schedules between the regions, and may have reduced the overall supply of energy available to meet load on the West Coast. Overall, such measures would be expected to raise costs to consumers and profits to suppliers.

I wonder if the SF Chronicle will print that? LOL.

[randita]

There have been numerous articles implicating the ISO in over-scheduling, bidding schemes and other shenanigans found and posted on FR. Snopercod keeps a great archive, so he will surely be able to call some of them up.

I think it's a pretty valid rule of thumb that whatever Davis and his hacks are accusing others of doing, they did themselves to a greater degree.

But who would have standing take on the ISO and make sure their dirty laundry is exposed?

[Robert357]

Yeh, it is a pretty damaging report. Hey if you have a moment, go ahead and send the link/article to the SF Reporter. If you want to have a little more fun you can also send the following link, which I am using as a catch all so I can find old Cal ISO screw-ups.

Free Republic article is linked here and the hot stuff is toward the end as far as links to past sins of the Cal ISO

I think that the truth about the ISO is beginning to come out. When it all comes out, I wonder how Gov Davis is going to look?

[Robert357]

You might check on the Link I have included in the above post and check on some of the past links to Cal ISO problems toward the end of the article.

[Dog Gone]

I sent Mr. Martin an email with the links along with my statement of confidence that an objective reporter like himself would certainly follow up with a story on Cal ISO.

I will let you know if he responds, but please do not hold your breath waiting.

[snopercod]

Wow! A big salute to Robert, who has been steadfast in his belief that the Cal-ISO was a major culprit in the blackouts.

I'll have to check my archives and see if I can find anything pertinent, and also read the links.

Being as it's way past beer-thirty here in the Southern Appalacians, I will report back tomorrow so as not to embarass myself.

Nice job, all.

[snopercod]

There was a time when Jason cared about reporting the truth. Maybe it's not too late for him to redeem himself.

[TheOtherOne]

Jason wrote a little too much truth for some, so much so that it threatened his livelihood. Nevertheless, he is still reporting the facts, but many do not want to hear it.

Specifically, his reports on Secretary White's knowledge of bs Enron deals, led to tremendous pressure and trashing of Jason from various sources. His story will come out - I assure you. He continues to report.

[snopercod]

Thanks for the explanation. Guess I'll cut him a little slack ;-)

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Funny how companies who have to date NOT been found to have participated in manipulation have seen their stock plummet along with everyone else. Calpine is a case in point. As a matter of fact, California has already renegotiated long-term contracts with Calpine so obviously does not see them at fault. However, the stock price is still dirt cheap. Unbelievable. For those who don't think dishonest affects everyone, look a little closer.

[snopercod]

Here are some applicable threads:

California Grid Operator Accepts Responsibility

LOS ANGELE- 7/5/2001 – The operator of the state's power grid has acknowledged that it was responsible for a power plant's production swings that Gov. Gray Davis had called evidence of price gouging by out-of-state energy companies, two newspapers reported Sunday.

AES: Role In Calif Power Market Misrepresented By CPUC Report

LOS ANGELES -(Dow Jones)- AES Corp's role in the California power market was mischaracterized in a report by state regulators that said energy firms failed to generate available power during blackouts, the company said in a response to the report seen by Dow Jones Newswires.

AES owns and operates three power plants from which it has agreed to sell all the energy to the Williams Companies . The contract price of power isn't affected by the real-time market price, and AES generates power only when told to do so by Williams, AES said.

California Agency Is Reluctant To Assume State Power Costs

WSJ - 2/12/2001 - The grid operator, known as the California Independent System Operator, was continuing to buy any additional electricity required for system reliability. During past several months, the ISO has been forced to obtain as much as a third of the state's needed power daily.

However, the ISO doesn't have any money to pay the power bills...

El Paso cranks up public relations machine

Houston Chronicle - 10/15/2002 - The fact that El Paso had been ordered to reduce pressure in its line during the period in question is not disputed by anyone, yet the corrective order that was in effect during the period is not even mentioned in the judge's recommendation.

[randita]

Thanks for the reminder. Were there situations where the ISO was colluding with friendly entities to bid up over-scheduled power to sell it out of state for top dollar?

Something about that jogs my memory.

[snopercod]

Were there situations where the ISO was colluding with friendly entities...

Yes, I think Robert posted something about that.