300M

Congress has raised funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $300 million to $2.2 billion for fiscal year 2005, a move that elicited kudos from industry groups and lawmakers.

Congress has raised funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $300 million to $2.2 billion for fiscal year 2005, a move that elicited kudos from industry groups and lawmakers.

As winter temperatures in the Northeast plunged to single digits, the Senate last Thursday overwhelmingly passed a major omnibus spending bill that, among other things, calls for a $300 million increase in federal assistance to help low-income heating customers pay their utility bills throughout 2003. At the same time, President Bush released additional emergency funds last week to aid the public during the cold snap.

Mirant’s liquidity position heading into 2003 was significantly strengthened after the Atlanta-based company on Tuesday said that it has completed the sale of the company’s 33% economic interest in the Shajiao C power plant in China to China Resources Power Holding Co. Ltd. for $300 million.

In an effort to strengthen its balance sheet, Tulsa, OK-based Oneok Inc. said last week it has agreed to sell certain natural gas and oil-producing properties for $300 million in cash to an undisclosed producer.

In an effort to strengthen its balance sheet, Tulsa, OK-based Oneok Inc. said Monday it has agreed to sell certain natural gas and oil-producing properties for $300 million in cash to an undisclosed producer.

Dynegy Inc. punted away two assets last week and in return, received some cash to put toward its sagging liquidity. Last Monday, it sold one of its two natural gas storage facilities in the United Kingdom, and on Wednesday, sold the last asset it held in Northern Natural Gas Co. (NNG). Together, the two sales added close to $300 million to the coffers.

Kinder Morgan, Inc. announced plans to contribute $300 millionin assets to Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., the company’smaster limited partnership. The largest asset to be contributed isKinder Morgan Texas Pipeline, formerly MidCon Texas, a 2,600-milenatural gas pipeline system that extends from South Texas toHouston along the Texas Gulf Coast.