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Current commercial trends, such as the building of floor spaceand Internet use, will be factors that drive commercial gas demandup 1.2% annually from 3.3 quadrillion Btus in 1997 to 4.0 quads in2015, the Gas Research Institute said in its latest report, the1999 Commercial Sector Summary (GRI-99/0007). It also predicts thatcommercial energy consumption – which accounts for 10% of alldomestic energy demand – is expected to grow 1.1 % annually, from7.6 quads to 9.2 quads by 2015.

Fresh from a deal annexing its first natural gas assets, Carolina Power & Light Co. (CP&L) plans to grow considerably by acquiring Florida Progress Corp., parent of Florida Power, for $5.3 billion.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP will provide pipelinetransportation services for Aux Sable Liquid Products LP in theChicago area for liquids from Alliance Pipeline. Aux Sable isconstructing natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction and fractionationfacilities in Channahon, IL, about two miles east of KinderMorgan’s Morris, IL, liquids pipeline, storage and truck loadingfacility. Aux Sable’s facilities will initially process up to 1.6Bcf/d from Alliance and remove from the gas stream up to 40,000barrels of ethane, 19,000 barrels of propane, 8,000 barrels ofbutane (both normal butane and isobutane) and 3,000 barrels ofnatural gasoline. The facilities are targeted for completion byOct. 1, 2000.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP will provide pipelinetransportation services for Aux Sable Liquid Products LP in theChicago area for liquids from Alliance Pipeline. Aux Sable isconstructing natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction and fractionationfacilities in Channahon, IL, about two miles east of KinderMorgan’s Morris, IL, liquids pipeline, storage and truck loadingfacility. Aux Sable’s facilities will initially process up to 1.6Bcf/d from Alliance and remove from the gas stream up to 40,000barrels of ethane, 19,000 barrels of propane, 8,000 barrels ofbutane (both normal butane and isobutane) and 3,000 barrels ofnatural gasoline. The facilities are targeted for completion byOct. 1, 2000.

The proposed marriage of KN Energy Inc. and Kinder Morgan Inc.has passed federal antitrust review and has been verbally approvedby Colorado regulators, which puts the deal on track to becompleted in the early fourth quarter, the companies said.

Southern California Gas Co.’s proposed restructuring plan hasbeen pushed aside by six new confidential alternatives becausecertain aspects of the utility’s plan have been deemedanticompetitive and have the potential to allow gaming at theTopock, AZ, receipt point, according to participants in settlementdiscussions taking place at a downtown Los Angeles hotel.

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.

The increase in prices is primarily attributable to increased demand for electric generation and storage injections.

PG&E declared a system-wide OFO with a 7% tolerance with aStage I non-compliance charge of $1.00/Dth due to high inventoryfor the weekend.