Announcing

Columbia Natural Resources (CNR) kept its whirlwind ofAppalachian Basin activity alive yesterday, by announcing thepurchase of gas fields and related assets in Steuben County, NY,from Pittsburgh, PA-based Meridian Exploration Corp. No financialterms of the deal were disclosed. CNR took control of the assetslast week.

MCN Energy Group surprised observers and angered some investorsyesterday by announcing the cancellation of its Michigan E&Psale and a sharp change in strategic direction to a more regionalfocus from a national one.

Recent basement-dweller KN Energy electrified the energyindustry Friday, announcing what one analyst called the deal of thedecade – a marriage with the brains and bucks of Houston’s KinderMorgan Inc. KN’s Chairman Larry Hall immediately resigned, andKinder Morgan Chairman Richard D. Kinder, credited with helpingbuild Enron’s underpinnings, was named heir apparent. Theannouncement sent KN’s stock price soaring nearly 55% on Friday.

Recent basement-dweller KN Energy electrified the energyindustry Friday, announcing what one analyst called the deal of thedecade – a marriage with the brains and bucks of Houston’s KinderMorgan Inc. KN’s Chairman Larry Hall immediately resigned, KinderMorgan Chairman Richard D. Kinder, credited with helping buildEnron’s underpinnings, was named heir apparent, and KN’s stockprice soared nearly 55% in one day.

CMS Energy, announcing completion of the $2.2 billion deal tobuy Duke Energy’s Panhandle Eastern and Trunkline pipeline and LNGassets, also has acquired a president and COO for the new CMSPanhandle Pipeline companies. Christopher A. Helms had been Duke’sgeneral manager of business development and managing director ofits PanEnergy Services Europe subsidiary.

Semco Energy Inc. sold Semco Energy Services, its natural gasmarketing arm, to MCN Energy Group only weeks after announcingintentions to exit the gas marketing side of its business. Nofinancial terms of the deal were disclosed except that Semcoexpects to record a gain on the sale and the companies expect thetransaction to close by the end of March.

Semco Energy Inc. sold Semco Energy Services, its natural gasmarketing arm, to MCN Energy Group only weeks after announcingintentions to exit the gas marketing side of its business. Nofinancial terms of the deal were disclosed except that Semcoexpects to record a gain on the sale and the companies expect thetransaction to close by the end of March.

Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) said it embarked on a$17.3 million stock repurchase plan last week after announcing theNew Mexico Supreme Court rejected a $112 million rate cut imposedby the state’s outgoing Public Utility Commission (PUC) late lastyear.

Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) said it embarked on a$17.3 million stock repurchase plan Tuesday after announcing theNew Mexico Supreme Court rejected a $112 million rate cut imposedby the state’s outgoing Public Utility Commission (PUC) late lastyear.