EnCana Corp. has completed its sale of some heavy-oil assets in east central and southern Alberta to Harvest Energy Trust for US$395 million. The property sale represents about 16,800 boe/d of production after royalties and is made up of predominantly medium- and heavy-oil assets. The sale is part of EnCana’s first tranche of divestitures to reduce its debt. Tristone Capital Inc. served as a financial adviser to EnCana on this transaction.

Currently, about 34% of utilities say they use powerline carrier or wireless fixed-network technology for meter reading, which is only slightly less than the 40% that use drive-by technologies, according to Chartwell’s 2004 automated meter reading survey of 119 utilities. However, more utilities are considering wireless networks or two-way PLC than drive-by systems, the company said in its report titled “AMR Fixed Networks: Wireless vs. PLC.” About 28% of utilities are considering fixed networks, 19% are considering two-way powerline carrier technologies and 17% are considering mobile. The 103-page report includes five chapters of analysis, profiles of 11 fixed network vendors and 10 case studies, including updates on the ways Exelon and Duquesne Light use wireless fixed networks, Chartwell said. A third new case study details the reasons Bangor (Maine) Hydro recently chose to deploy a two-way powerline carrier system. For more information contact Robin Roux at (800) 432-5879 or (404) 237-9099, or visit https://www.energylibrary.com.

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