Challenge

In a move creating an entity that will challenge CMS Energy Corp. for the title of Michigan’s largest gas and electric utility, DTE Energy Co. announced the purchase of MCN Energy Group last week in a cash and stock transaction valued at $2.6 billion. The combined company will be headquartered in Detroit and named DTE Energy Co. The merger is expected to be one of the speediest among utilities, closing in six to nine months.

Two on-going lawsuits is enough, a California Superior Courtjudge said in dismissing Southern Union’s challenge in his court tothe merger plans of Southwest Gas with Oneok. Judge Ronald Pragerdismissed the case last Friday because SU is making the samearguments in the federal courts of Nevada and Arizona, the LasVegas-based Southwest said. The case was dismissed withoutprejudice, meaning SU can re-file upon resolution or termination ofthe federal actions.

The D.C. Court of Appeals last week rejected a challenge bySouthwest Gas Corp. to the capacity-release program of El PasoNatural Gas.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals last week denied a petitionchallenging FERC-approved tariff revisions of South Georgia NaturalGas on the grounds that it in part amounted to a “collateralattack” on Order 636, which the court previously upheld.