Buys

The Orlando [FL] Utilities Commission (OUC) approved the sale ofthe municipal utility’s 619-MW Indian River Steam Generation Plant(IRP) to Reliant Energy for $205 million.

Orion Power Holdings Inc., jointly owned by affiliates ofGoldman, Sachs & Co. and Constellation Energy, bought theAstoria Generating Station, Gowanus Gas Turbine and Narrows GasTurbine facilities from Consolidated Edison Co. of New York forabout $550 million.

Attempting to meet steep generation acquisition goals set by itsCEO for 1999, El Paso Energy recently bought a 49% ownershipinterest in East Coast Power, a subsidiary of Enron Corp. Terms ofthe deal were not disclosed. Enron still maintains control of thecompany with its 51% interest. El Paso said this deal is the firstdomestic power alliance between the two companies.

Santa Fe Snyder, the resultant company from the recently approved Santa Fe Energy Resources and Snyder Oil Corp. merger, bought $210 million of interest in four Shell Exploration & Production Co. (SEPCo) Gulf of Mexico (GOM) assets. Closing is expected in August. Last week’s deal, which would give Santa Fe Snyder access to production from the Macaroni, Troika and Brutus deep-water fields as well as the Angus Complex, is expected to add 14.5 MMcf/d and 11,500 b/d of oil to the new company’s production results in 2000.

Santa Fe Snyder, the resultant company from the recentlyapproved Santa Fe Energy Resources and Snyder Oil Corp. merger,bought $210 million of interest in four Shell Exploration &Production Co. (SEPCo) Gulf of Mexico (GOM) assets. Closing isexpected in August. Monday’s deal, which would give Santa Fe Snyderaccess to production from the Macaroni, Troika and Brutusdeep-water fields as well as the Angus Complex, is expected to add14.5 MMcf/d and 11,500 b/d of oil to the new company’s productionresults in 2000.

After swallowing two energy distributors in two months most observers expected Energy East to enter a digestion phase, but the company came back for a third helping last week. The parent company of New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) said it is adding CTG Resources, Inc., parent of Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), to its plate, which already is loaded with CMP Energy and Connecticut Energy.

Coastal Oil & Gas Corp.-on behalf of Coastal Oil & GasUSA LP – acquired properties in the Piceance Basin of Colorado andthe Uinta Basin of Utah from Mitchell Energy & DevelopmentCorp.

Adding to its long list of utility, marketing and transportationassets, Aquila Energy parent Utilicorp United entered into astrategic partnership with Quanta Services Wednesday for $400million. Utilicorp hopes to increase its profit potential in thederegulating electric and telecommunications markets by teamingwith the Houston-based Quanta, a provider of specialized servicesfor companies in those industries.

NRG Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northern States Power,said it has completed the acquisition of Arthur Kill Station andthe Astoria Gas Turbine Sites totaling 1,456 MW of generatingcapacity from Consolidated Edison Co. of New York The 842-MW ArthurKill Generating Station, located on Staten Island, includes twosteam generating units designed to burn gas and oil, as well as a”black start” gas turbine. The 614-MW Astoria Gas Turbine Sites,located in Queens, consist of 20 gas turbines, grouped into 11units. NRG holds 100% interest in the projects.