Confirmed

Moody’s Investors Service Wednesday confirmed the ratings of The Williams Companies, Inc. at Baa2 senior unsecured and its subsidiaries but changed the outlook to negative from stable. The ratings agency cited the potential bankruptcy and contingent liabilities of the company’s former subsidiary, Williams Communications Group (WCG), but noted Williams is negotiating to take over payments for WCG debt and “eliminate certain trigger events.”

Officials with Distrigas of Massachusetts LLC and the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Tuesday that an order banning liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers into Boston Harbor has been rescinded effective immediately, enabling the company to receive shipments once again at its Everett, MA, terminal.

Enron Corp. and Dynegy Corp. remained mum on whether a merger deal was imminent late Thursday, but in the background, the investment community began digesting the possibility that the smaller Dynegy, which has stuck to a path of high-quality asset acquisition to accompany its modest trading arm, could sit at the same table money-wise with Enron, well known for shedding acquisitions as fast as it has amassed the largest trading and marketing business in the world. Now, however, Enron faces a credibility problem larger than its operations, and has begun to slowly dish out details of its complex financial operations before it sheds even more assets or is consumed by another company.

Calpine Corp. has confirmed that the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California has approved an order which authorizes Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) to pay all of its outstanding payables owed to Calpine’s qualifying facility (QF) affiliates for power deliveries the San Jose, CA-based company made to PG&E between Dec. 1, 2000 through April 6, 2001. PG&E owes Calpine approximately $265 million, plus interest.

The American Gas Association (AGA) confirmed that it will continue its weekly storage report until May 1, following requests by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. To further smooth the transition, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a separate announcement that when it takes up the survey in May it will provide weekly estimates of working gas levels in the same three regions of the United States for which AGA has provided estimates (see NGI, Nov. 19).

The American Gas Association (AGA) confirmed that it will continue its weekly storage report until May 1, following requests by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (see Daily GPI, Dec. 3). To further smooth the transition, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a separate announcement that when it takes up the survey in May it will provide weekly estimates of working gas levels in the same three regions of the United States for which AGA has provided estimates.

Chicago-based Arthur Andersen LLP confirmed Friday that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as part of its continuing formal investigation into Enron Corp., has subpoenaed the financial records and documents of the failed energy marketer.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed last week it put out a general advisory to all its field offices warning that Osama bin Laden has issued orders for U.S. natural gas supplies to be attacked in the event of the death or capture of himself or his Taliban leader, Mullah Omar. The FBI stressed it had no corroboration for the information and it could turn out to be unreliable.

Chicago-based Arthur Andersen LLP confirmed Friday that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as part of its continuing formal investigation into Enron Corp., has subpoenaed the financial records and documents of the failed energy marketer.