Because

The “desperation” by utilities to consolidate, mutate or get outof the business altogether is a good thing, said utilities analystDaniel Ford of ABN AMRO, because this fear is where most of thestock values are now being created. Ford, a keynote speaker atPowerMart 2000 in Houston, called investors a “fickle bunch,” butadded they are sticking with utility stocks.

Westcoast Energy has shelved the proposed Orca Natural GasPipeline project because of a lack of market interest in thePacific Northwest. The proposed 140-mile pipeline from Sumas, WA,to points along the coast, was expected to be in service in 2004.

Westcoast Energy has shelved the proposed Orca Natural GasPipeline project because of a lack of market interest in thePacific Northwest. The proposed 140-mile pipeline from Sumas, WA,to points along the coast, was expected to be in service in 2004.

Market-power abuse in the electric industry often goes “unnoticed” by FERC because enforcement of the rules under Order 888, which are “frequently opaque,” is mostly left up to the transmission owners themselves, according to consulting firm Tabors Caramanis & Associates in Cambridge, MA.

Market-power abuse in the electric industry often goes”unnoticed” by FERC because enforcement of the rules under Order888, which are “frequently opaque,” is mostly left up to thetransmission owners themselves, according to consulting firm TaborsCaramanis & Associates in Cambridge, MA.

The California Independent System Operator (California ISO)ordered Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to initiate itslocalized non-firm interruptible program 12- 6 p.m. yesterdaybecause of continued heat Northern California, particularly in theinland areas. In addition, the amount of generation unavailable inthe Bay Area due to repairs increased from 488 MW Wednesday to 800MW Thursday. PG&E said it curtailed 300 MW of interruptiblecustomers beginning at 12:15 p.m. during localized load shedding tohelp stabilize the flow of power on the ISO-controlled transmissionsystems. The California ISO was not under a Stage One Emergencyyesterday, however it issued a Power Watch, urging customersthroughout the state to conserve electricity whenever possible.

After a two-year delay because of computer snafus related tobilling, East Ohio Gas finally is preparing to join the state’s twoother major gas distribution companies in offering customer choiceacross its entire system. It also has agreed to stop sellingnatural gas entirely by 2004.

After a two-year delay because of computer snafus related tobilling, East Ohio Gas finally is preparing to join the state’s twoother major gas distribution companies in offering customer choiceacross its entire system. It also has agreed to stop sellingnatural gas entirely by 2004.

El Paso Energy earnings jumped 84% in the first quarter comparedto 1Q99 mainly because of cost savings from its merger with Sonatand the strong performance of its unregulated merchant energy andE&P segments.