Chairman

Texaco Chairman Peter I. Bijur said industry observers shouldn’tbe surprised to see Texaco marching to a different drummer in theindustry’s high-stepping merger parade

FERC Chairman James Hoecker announced last week that aCommission staff team has been formed to closely monitordevelopments in the electric market in an attempt to identify earlyand possibly prevent price aberrations similar to those thatoccurred in the Midwest last summer.

Chairman James Hoecker announced yesterday that a FERC staffteam has been formed to closely monitor developments in theelectric market in an attempt to identify and prevent priceaberrations similar to those which occurred in the Midwest lastsummer.

In an unusual step last week, FERC Chairman James Hoeckeroffered some advice to the industry negotiators who have beenmeeting in closed-door sessions to craft an agreement on the majornatural gas initiatives contained in the notice of proposedrulemaking (NOPR) and notice of inquiry (NOI).

In an unusual step last week, FERC Chairman James Hoeckeroffered some advice to the industry negotiators who have beenmeeting in closed-door sessions to craft an agreement on the majornatural gas initiatives contained in the notice of proposedrulemaking (NOPR) and notice of inquiry (NOI).

When assessing the market of an acquisition target, allcustomers are not equal, Columbia Energy Group Chairman Oliver G.Richard told a merger and acquisition symposium this week.

When assessing the market of an acquisition target, allcustomers are not equal, Columbia Energy Group Chairman Oliver G.Richard told a merger and acquisition symposium this week.

Despite the increasing pressure of retail competition, thefuture is bright for gas utilities, American Gas AssociationChairman Dick Terry told investors last week. Terry, who also isCEO of Chicago-based Peoples Energy, told the New York Society ofSecurity Analysts he’s optimistic that federal and state regulatorsare headed in the right direction.

Royal/Dutch Shell Group Chairman Mark Moody-Stuart said lastweek the company plans to sell 40% of it chemicals business andtake a related fourth quarter $4.5 billion after-tax charge. Hedescribed the move as the first step in “clearing out thecupboard,” which also will include selling multiple other assets inareas of high cost oil production, refining, and gas transportationand processing.