fyi el paso el paso merchant ordered relinquish data ferc yesterday ordered el paso merchant energy stop stonewalling turn protected materials parties involved complaint case alleged affiliate received preferential treatment acquired 1 2 bcf firm capacity el paso natural gas specifically commission denied el paso merchant request rehearing june 2000 order granted part discovery sought california public utilities commission rejected rehearing september protective order latter directed el paso merchant make available intervening parties agreed terms protective order materials submitted cpuc ferc case far el paso merchant refused release information parties claiming materials filed cpuc ferc government eyes also argues protective order offers inadequate protection commercially sensitive information commission disagreed el paso merchant substantiated sufficiently justified broad claim protected materials provided cpuc commission warrant designation government eyes indeed information el paso merchant seeks shield relates directly issues order said rpo 0 241 also ferc finds protective order provides sufficient protection el paso merchant commercially sensitive documents cpuc brought complaint last april seeking abrogate 38 million contract arrangement el paso el paso merchant agency alleges affiliate given preferential treatment el paso open season capacity thus contract arrangement declared void cpuc others contend contract arrangement awarded one third el paso capacity rights california border el paso merchant largely responsible high natural gas electric prices state urged ferc act immediately merits complaint commission yet