fw southern trails article western leg original message brennan lorna sent wednesday august 08 2001 10 11 mcgowan mike w cc ratner michael subject southern trails article western leg questar sell proposed pipeline new ca rate although giving search customers california salt lake city based questar corp oil natural gas converted pipeline four corners new mexico remains stymied operating portion within california newly revised peaking tariff southern california gas co according questar officials analyzing new rate established aug 2 state regulators questar looking alternative uses california portion approved interstate pipeline work rate said chad jones questar spokesperson definitely go far enough remove obstacles way developing new pipelines southern california still level playing field although better current rls residual load service tariff still punishes customers want take partial service socalgas competitor customers still pay higher interruptible penalties parts state higher rates balancing services point going stop trying market capacity southern trails definitely point consider alternative uses california portion 700 miles 16 inch diameter pipeline one alternatives would operate california part line petroleum liquids line carrying product long beach harbor area existing petroleum liquid products pipelines around california arizona border alternative however jones said finding customer major portion converted pipeline 120 mmcf capacity still questar preference months reviewing issue weighing alternatives california public utilities commission last week established new peaking standby charge customers taking partial service socalgas competitor allowing customers pay amounts gas use given time local gas transmission distribution utility socalgas cpuc tried balance need local gas utility made whole added fixed costs shifted customers trying encourage promote additional natural gas resources without encouraging cherry picking overbuilding according cpuc president loretta lynch questar officials said tuesday pretty much exhausted appeal resources go head head established big boys lobbying california governor state legislature jones said thus still looking large customer would willing break gridlock southern california name promoting competition east california portion southern trails pipeline already fully subscribed start operations mid year next year jones said