Commission

Nicor Gas of Naperville, IL, received approval from the IllinoisCommerce Commission (ICC) for a performance-based rate (PBR) planfor gas costs. The company filed the original proposal with the ICCMarch 2, and, with some changes, the ICC approved the plan. NicorGas has 14 days to accept or reject the modified plan. During anine-month review process, testimony was presented by interestedparties including the ICC staff, the Citizens Utility Board and theCook County States Attorney’s office.

Burlington Resources Inc. this week filed updated pro forma financial information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding its pending acquisition of Poco Petroleums Ltd. to include third quarter results of combined operations. Shareholders of Calgary-based Poco yesterday approved the C$2.6-billion takeover that would create North America’s fourth-largest gas producer.

Burlington Resources Inc. this week filed updated pro formafinancial information with the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) regarding its pending acquisition of Poco Petroleums Ltd. toinclude third quarter results of combined operations. Shareholdersof Calgary-based Poco yesterday approved the C$2.6-billion takeoverthat would create North America’s fourth-largest gas producer.

Ohio Governor Bob Taft signed into law a bill requiring thestate’s Public Utilities Commission to investigate any hostiletakeover bid directed at an Ohio gas utility at the time thebidder’s tender offer is made.

ScottishPower and PacifiCorp received Nuclear RegulatoryCommission (NRC) approval of their merger. It is the final federalapproval needed to complete the transaction. NRC approval isrequired because PacifiCorp owns a 2.5 percent share in the TrojanNuclear Plant in Oregon. The plant has not operated for severalyears, and is in the process of being decommissioned. “With allfederal, and four of the six state approvals in place, we are wellon track to completing the merger by the end of the year,” saidPacifiCorp CEO-designate Alan Richardson.

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft signed into law a bill requiring the state’sPublic Utilities Commission to investigate any hostile takeover biddirected at an Ohio gas utility at the time the bidder’s tenderoffer is made.

Southern Union Co. received final approval from the FederalEnergy Regulatory Commission for its merger with PennsylvaniaEnterprises Inc. The FERC approved transfer of control of powermarketing licenses held by Pacific Enterprises. The merger,announced June7, is expected to close Thursday.

Preparing for the potential inability of Peachtree Natural Gasto reliably supply gas, the Georgia Public Service Commission(GPSC) decided to issue an RFP yesterday for any marketer who wouldwant to be an interim pooler and accumulate some or all ofPeachtree’s 177,000 customers. The RFP is scheduled to concludetoday.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) began thecertification process for the Coastal Corp.’s Gulfstream NaturalGas project, a pipeline from Mobile, AL, across the Gulf of Mexicoand the state of Florida. And in related news, Williams re-filedit’s application for the competing Buccaneer Gas Pipeline. Aprevious Williams filing was rejected without prejudice forinsufficient environmental information.