RCA gives CIGGS’ parties more time

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska is granting a request from parties in the Cook Inlet Gas Gathering System (CIGGS) dispute more time to reach a final settlement. The parties told the commission in June that they had reached an agreement in principle to resolve rate and tariff issues; the commission required a final settlement agreement by Aug. 26.

The commission said Sept. 6 that the parties have requested a 30-day extension.

They told the commission they have been working on proposed final settlement agreement language, have had face-to-face negotiations in addition to written communications and are continuing to employ the services of mediator Blythe Marston.

Drafting the final settlement agreement and the tariff is taking the parties longer than they estimated, and the commission said that because of “the complexities of the matters at hand,” it is not opposed to extending the filing date for the final settlement agreement.

If a final settlement agreement is not filed Sept. 26, the commission said it will hold a status conference Oct. 6.

The commission said it is retaining the hearing date on the final settlement previously set for Jan. 26, 2006.

—Petroleum News