Koch Gateway Pipeline informed FERC this week that on Dec. 31 itwill change its name to “Gulf South” and convert from a corporationto a limited partnership under Section 266 of the Delawareconversion statute. Koch said the conversion would have no impacton ratepayers. “If, however, Gulf South admits individual partners,through either a private or pubic offering of limited partnershipinterests, it will make a limited Section 4 rate filing within 90days to address any rate impacts of that change,” Koch said in itsDec. 22 filing with the Commission.

Southwest Gas reported that federal RICO allegations made bySouthern Union Co. against Southwest and ONEOK Inc. were dismissedon Dec. 15 by Federal District Court Judge Roslyn O. Silver ofPhoenix, AZ. “This is a significant event, dealing with the mostserious of the claims brought by Southern Union,” said SouthwestCOO George C. Biehl. “This latest development reinforces whatSouthwest Gas has maintained from the very inception of thelitigation – the Southern Union allegations against Southwest arewithout merit. Southwest expects that in the weeks and months tocome Southern Union’s claims against it will continue to beunpeeled as Southwest undertakes additional discovery and furtherpursues available legal remedies.” The RICO claims were included aspart of litigation filed by Southern in July 1999. The litigationwas brought in opposition to the attempted acquisition of Southwestby ONEOK. The ONEOK merger had been approved by shareholders butafter the staff of the Arizona Corporation Commission questionedONEOK’s fitness to provide service in Arizona, ONEOK breached itsmerger agreement and called off the acquisition.

In an effort to help ease the Pacific Northwest’s powershortage, Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian oil, energy and light metalsgroup, announced that its Goldendale Aluminum smelter in the stateof Washington will drastically cut production for the next ninemonths. Goldendale’s plant will reduce production from 105,000metric tons of aluminum to about 27,000 metric tons. By curtailingaluminum production, unused electricity will be returned to theBonneville Power Administration (BPA), which will help lessen thecurrent power crisis in the Pacific Northwest.

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