The New York State Public Service Commission (NYPSC) approvedthe merger of Consolidated Edison of New York and Orange andRockland Utilities. NYPSC Chairman Maureen O. Helmer said Consumerswill benefit from the strength of the companies’ combinedmanagement and from merger-related savings over the next fiveyears.

Aquila Energy and Oasis Pipe Line entered into a new type ofagreement in which Aquila will market short-term space on Oasis,which runs from the production area around Waha to connections nearHouston. The 600-mile line has about a 1 Bcf/d capacity. The twocompanies are related since Oasis is owned by a triumvirate of ElPaso, Dow Hydrocarbons and Aquila Gas Pipeline. Aquila will do allthe short-term marketing for Oasis, up to and including one monthtransactions.

Columbia Natural Resources is buying 43 Bcfe of Appalachianregion gas reserves and some gathering assets from The Wiser OilCo. for $28 million. CNR plans to purchase working interest in 487natural gas and oil wells, more than 100,000 net acres of developedand undeveloped property and a natural gas gathering system. Theassets are located primarily in southeastern Kentucky and centralWest Virginia. Current production from the acquired assets on a netrevenue basis is 8 MMcf/d.

©Copyright 1999 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.