Currently

Calling it “the most important energy project currently underconstruction” in North America, Arctic Resources Co.’s new chairmanForrest E. Hoglund began a public relations campaign in Houstonyesterday to push the Northern Gas Pipeline Project that wouldtransport natural gas from the Alaskan North Slope and the CanadianMackenzie Delta to the Lower 48.

The Vector Pipeline project, a proposed $470 million pipelineextending from Chicago to the Dawn hub in Ontario, is currentlyholding an open season through May 19. Vector said it is focused onselling the 300 MMcf/d dedicated to come online when its Highlandcompressor station is put in service in 2001. The open seasonstarted last week.

The Vector Pipeline project, a proposed $470 million pipelineextending from Chicago to the Dawn hub in Ontario, is currentlyholding an open season through May 19. Vector said it is focused onselling the 300 MMcf/d dedicated to come online when its Highlandcompressor station is put in service in 2001.

Excelergy, a software solutions company that is currentlyinvolved in projects with Altra, Southern California Gas Co. andEastern Enterprises, announced yesterday that it plans to gopublic. The Boston-based company filed its registration statementwith the SEC last week. All of the company’s shares are beingtendered for sale, Excelergy said. It intends to use the netproceeds for general corporate purposes including working capitaland potential acquisitions. The company specializes in billing andcustomer information software applications. Current products on themarket include the ABP 3000 customer relationship management andbilling software, the eXACT family of business-to-businesstransaction management solutions and the e-Choice NetInternet-based consumer choice solution. When available, copies ofthe preliminary prospectus may be obtained by the IPO’sunderwriter, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown.

About 300 MMcf/d of Sable Island gas is flowing through theMaritimes & Northeast Pipeline currently to markets in theU.S., a spokeswoman for the pipeline company said last week. Thepipe, which transports gas produced offshore Nova Scotia, isexpected to be shipping 450 MMcf/d by summer and 530 MMcf/d whenthe Halifax, St. John’s and Point Tupper laterals in Canada areconstructed and open for service.

About 300 MMcf/d of Sable Island gas is flowing through theMaritimes & Northeast Pipeline currently to markets in theU.S., a spokeswoman for the pipeline company said yesterday. Thepipe, which transports gas produced offshore Nova Scotia, isexpected to be shipping 450 MMcf/d by summer and 530 MMcf/d whenthe Halifax, St. John’s and Point Tupper laterals in Canada areconstructed and open for service.

Nicor Gas said yesterday it has accepted the Illinois CommerceCommission’s (ICC) order for a performance-based rate (PBR) fornatural gas costs. Currently, the Naperville, IL-based distributorspends about $900 million a year to purchase gas, but the PBRprovides the financial incentive for it to buy gas at even lowerprices. Under the PBR formula, Nicor’s actual gas costs will becompared to a targeted benchmark that’s based on competitive marketprices. The difference between the actual gas costs and thebenchmark will be shared 50/50 between Nicor Gas and its customers.The PBR plan, which will go into effect Jan. 1, will not apply totransportation customers who purchase their own supplies from thirdparties.

The Web site www.energyOn.com of Englewood, CO, has expanded itsservice territory to include gas service for business andresidential consumers in Maryland. The site currently offers aselection of competitive energy suppliers and products forconsumers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, California,the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. The site alsorecently expanded the Pennsylvania market to include York County.

Southern Company Energy Marketing (SCEM), the energy trading andmarketing joint venture of Southern Energy Inc. and VastarResources, Inc., has named Gary J. Morsches president. Currentlysenior vice president and COO, Morsches will have responsibilityfor all of SCEM’s commercial and administrative functions. He willoversee the trading, marketing, asset management, structuring,research and human resources functions for the company. MarceFuller, previously SCEM’s CEO, was named president and CEO ofSouthern Energy in July.