Businesses

In a shift that allows energy businesses to customize their online trading, Altra Energy Technologies Inc. has partnered with a California e-business provider to give customers the ability to set up private trading exchanges online. Altra’s alliance with @TheMoment of San Mateo, CA will give companies more control over their online trading floors, allowing them to set up direct sales online, through forward auction and live bid/ask exchange applications.

With Energy Marketing & Trading (EMT) leading the way, Williams more than doubled the return on its energy businesses in the first quarter this year over last, recording results from continuing operations of $378.3 million or 78 cents per share, compared with a restated $138.9 million or 31 cents a share for 1Q 2000.

With Energy Marketing & Trading (EMT) leading the way, Williams more than doubled the return on its energy businesses in the first quarter this year over last, recording results from continuing operations of $378.3 million or 78 cents per share, compared with a restated $138.9 million or 31 cents a share for 1Q 2000.

“The times, they are a-changing” could be Southern Company’smotto after a recent blitz of reorganization. The company reportedthat its board of directors approved the long-awaited spin-off ofMirant Corp. – formerly known as Southern Energy – and ChairmanA.W. “Bill” Dahlberg is retiring upon completion of thetransaction.

“The times, they are a-changing” could be Southern Company’smotto after a recent blitz of reorganization. The company reportedthat its board of directors approved the long-awaited spin-off ofMirant Corp. — formerly known as Southern Energy — and ChairmanA.W. “Bill” Dahlberg is retiring upon completion of thetransaction.

Chicago powerhouse Exelon announced new earnings targets for itsthree principal businesses yesterday, setting targets to grow at arate of about 10% a year through 2003. The company projectedearnings per share of $4.50 for 2001; $4.95 in 2002; and $5.40 in2003. Previous earnings per share had been $4.20 for 2001; $4.60 in2002; and $5.10 in 2003. Reduced amortization, partially offset byhigher spending for operations in its energy delivery business, isthe principal driver for the earnings increase said Exelonofficials. Exelon was formed in September 1999 in the merger ofPECO Energy Co. and Unicom Corp., and is one of the largestelectric utilities and the largest nuclear operator in the UnitedStates.

El Paso Energy Corp. is closer to acquiring PG&E Corp.’sTexas gathering and liquids businesses for about $840 million instock and debt after signing a consent agreement earlier this week.The deal includes 8,500 miles of natural gas transmission pipelinesthat transport about 2.8 Bcf/d, nine processing plants that process1.5 Bcf/d, and a 7.2 Bcf natural gas storage field.

Higher gas production volumes and higher commodity prices in the oil refining and marketing businesses boosted Coastal’s earnings for the third quarter 40% over the same period in 1999.

PG&E Energy Services all but completed its exit from theunregulated energy commodity and related services businesses withthe announcement last week it has sold its remaining servicecontracts and related assets to a unit of Chevron Corp. Thecontracts cover commercial, industrial and institutional customersspread around the country. The two San Francisco-based companieswould not disclose terms of the deal, but said it is expected toclose in mid-July.