Energy America, the Sempra Energy affiliate that was forced by NewJersey’s Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to halt retail activitiesbecause of slamming charges last December, reached a final agreementwith the NJBPU and New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (NJDCA)that will allow it to resume efforts to sign up New Jersey residentialand small-business customers. Under the settlement, Energy Americawill contribute $140,000 each to the NJBPU and NJDCA to furtherconsumer education on energy deregulation and to fund futureinvestigative and enforcement activities. By March Energy America willbegin to deliver electricity to its customers, when local utilityPublic Service Electric & Gas is expected to complete theelectronic switchover for customer accounts. After the Sempraaffiliate halted its activities in December, it spent five weeksrevising its marketing and training materials (see Daily GPI, Jan. 21)

Peoples Gas Co. has acquired the assets of Horizon Gas Co., aTampa-based propane distribution business, in a cash deal whoseterms were not disclosed. It’s another step in Peoples’ plan togrow its propane business. Horizon last year delivered about 1.7million gallons of propane to more than 9,000 commercial andresidential customers in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and nearby areas.Peoples is Florida’s largest independent propane provider.

Southern Union Co. of Austin, TX, announced the strategicpurchase of a 20-mile supply pipeline and the sale of propertyassets. Southern sold about 40,000 acres of land in Pennsylvaniathat was obtained in its acquisition of its PG Energy division(formerly Pennsylvania Enterprises Inc.). The land was sold for$12.3 million, which excludes the associated timber rights thatwere previously exchanged for rights to methane gas in a nearbylandfill. The company retains the rights to the gas, which is usedto fuel its 25 MW power plant at no charge for the next 13 years.

Southern Union bought from El Paso Natural Gas a 20-mile supplyline that serves the eastern portion of El Paso, TX. This allowsSouthern to integrate the line into its El Paso distributionsystem, providing efficient access to new customers.

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