NiSource said it filed the necessary information under theHart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 with theFederal Trade Commission and Department of Justice regarding itstender offer for all of Columbia Energy Group’s common shares. CEOGary Neale said it “sends a serious message to Columbia that we arecommitted to completing this transaction and that we are confidentin our ability to secure the necessary regulatory approvals. Wehave said throughout that we believe the regulatory approvalprocess can be completed within six to nine months if we worktogether. HSR clearance is an important first step, and one thatconfirms our commitment to move forward on all fronts of thistransaction.” NiSource is offering $68/share for Columbia stock.Columbia’s board has said the company is not for sale and isfighting the hostile takeover attempt (See Daily GPI July 16, July15, June 25, June 11 and June 8).

Avista Corp. of Spokane, WA, won a contract to provide trainingservices to Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), whichserves electricity to 500,000 commercial and residential customersin a 900-square-mile area in Sacramento and Placer Counties. AvistaCorp.’s Resource Management Services Program assists schooldistricts, colleges, and multi-site facilities in reducing overallresource costs by developing behavioral and retrofit measures forelectric, natural gas, other fuel sources, water, sewer and solidwaste. Avista has provided these services to customers for morethan four years in Washington and Idaho, helping client schooldistricts and universities save more than $1.5 million. Avista willprovide training to SMUD and three school districts in theSacramento region as they begin their own resource conservationmanagement program. Avista will provide two days of training foreach district.

Devon Energy Corp. of Oklahoma City, OK, and Houston-basedPennzEnergy Co. filed definitive proxy materials with the U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission for the merger of the twocompanies. The merger plans and basic terms were announced on May20 (See Daily GPI May 21, 1999). Distribution to shareholders ofthe proxy materials will begin July 16. On Aug. 17 Devon andPennzEnergy will each hold a special meeting of shareholders tovote on the merger. The deal is expected to be completed shortlythereafter. Upon completion of the merger, Devon will rank in thetop 10 of all US-based independent oil and gas producers in termsof market capitalization, total proved reserves and annualproduction. The merger will create an international oil and gascompany with an equity market capitalization of about $2.6 billionand enterprise value of about $4.7 billion.

New Energy Ventures, Inc. unveiled a new logo and a new name,NewEnergy Inc. The new logo, an array of eccentric circles thatcoalesce into an ordered structure, “symbolizes NewEnergy’s promiseto customers that it will bring order out of chaos in thecompetitive electric marketplace,” said CEO Michael R. Peevey.

Los Angeles-based New Energy Ventures was formed in 1995 toserve customers in every state where a competitive energy market isemerging. The company has contracts to provide more than 2,500 MWof electricity to 600-700 customers (more than 1,000 commercial andindustrial electric meters). NEV has 250 employees at nine existingoffices. It is 50% owned by Unisource Energy Corp., and 50% percentowned by New Energy Holdings, LLC, (which is owned by the seniorofficers of New Energy Ventures). The company was bought byArlington, VA-based AES Corp. earlier this year for $90 million.

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