Analysts

Led by its unregulated wholesale energy operations, Duke Energyput in a whopper quarter, exceeding analysts expectations. Earningsbefore interest and taxes from its wholesale group jumped 175%.

In a move analysts predict will help both companies realizetheir full value, Williams has begun the first steps to separateits energy division from its communications businesses. The boardof directors of the Tulsa, OK-based company voted July 23 to beginthe process, which is expected to take about 18 months.

AGL Resources’ fiscal third quarter marks the third consecutive quarter the company has exceeded analysts’ predictions. The results also signify the first steadily increasing earnings trend after becoming the first gas utility to completely exit the gas merchant function.

AGL Resources’ fiscal third quarter marks the third consecutivequarter the company has exceeded analysts’ predictions. The resultsalso signify the first steadily increasing earnings trend afterbecoming the first gas utility to completely exit the gas merchantfunction.

In a move analysts predict will help both companies realizetheir full value, Williams has begun the first steps to separateits energy division from its communications businesses. The boardof directors of the Tulsa, OK-based company voted Sunday to beginthe process, which is expected to take about 18 months.

State regulators, LDCs, utilities and industry analysts arespringing into action to prepare residential customers for theharsh reality of much higher natural gas bills next winter,especially if power generation demand for gas continues unabatedand the winter heating season is unusually cold.

State regulators, LDCs, utilities and industry analysts have allsprung into action to prepare residential customers for muchhigher natural gas bills next winter, especially if powergeneration demand for gas continues unabated and the winter weatherturns unusally cold.

With June natural gas futures soaring to a dizzying high of$4.50 last week, projections by Lehman Brothers and Salomon SmithBarney that spot prices will average $3.50 the rest of the yearseem a bit too conservative. A few weeks ago, those price levelswould have seemed astronomical.

Sempra Energy shared its vision of the future with industryanalysts last week and said the key to earnings growth lies withunregulated businesses. The company’s goal of growing earnings pershare by 8 to 10% on a compound annual average basis over the nextfour years means it will be looking less and less like a utility.