Cuts

Deregulation of New Hampshire’s electricity market moved a giantstep closer to becoming a reality on Tuesday. The New HampshirePublic Utilities Commission approved the state’s settlementagreement with Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH),allowing the process of electric restructuring to continue on itstrack.

With growing concerns about the fragility of California’selectricity market under summer peak demand stresses, theCalifornia Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) Board of GovernorsThursday laid out an aggressive agenda to transform the state’spower market into a “workably competitive” model while narrowlyrejecting further reduction in price caps. It was the second timein a week the Cal-ISO board wrestled with the price cap issue.

With growing concerns about the fragility of California’selectricity market under summer peak demand stresses, theCalifornia Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) Board of GovernorsThursday laid out an aggressive agenda to transform the state’spower market into a “workably competitive” model while narrowlydrawing short of further tightening of price caps. It was thesecond time in a week the Cal-ISO board wrestled with the price capissue.

Utilipro Inc., an 80% AGL Resources-owned billing and customerservice provider, announced last week it is cutting staff andreorganizing because energy deregulation is taking hold too slowly.

Utilipro Inc., an 80% AGL Resources-owned customer-caresolutions provider, announced yesterday it is cutting staff andreorganizing because energy deregulation is taking hold too slowly.

Although a recent rate case settlement allowed PG&E to raiseits distribution rates, the hike will not translate into higherbills for customers. The utility said its revised gas tarifffiling, which the California Public Utilities Commission yesterday,will actually reduce overall residential gas rates by 3.1%.

Sempra Energy reported increased 1999 earnings of $394 million,or $1.66 per diluted share, up 34% from 1998 but the company islooking to further accelerate earnings growth and enhance itscompetitive position. It announced a dividend reduction to $0.25per share from its previous level of $0.39 per share and said itplans to hold a Dutch auction in which it will purchase up to 36million shares, or 15% of its outstanding common stock, at asingle, per-share price within a price range of $17.50 to $20. Theprice is a premium to its closing price on Jan. 25.

San Diego-based Sempra Energy, the creation of a merger betweenPacific Enterprises and Enova in mid-1998, has announced avoluntary job cut plan seeking a net reduction of about 275positions, or about 2.5% of its overall work force. The majority ofthe job eliminations will be rolled out in January and will targetmanagement and administrative support jobs at Sempra’s corporateheadquarters and in its two California utilities, SouthernCalifornia Gas and San Diego Gas and Electric.

San Diego-based Sempra Energy, the creation of a merger betweenPacific Enterprises and Enova in mid-1998, has announced avoluntary job cut plan seeking a net reduction of about 275positions, or about 2.5% of its overall work force. The majority ofthe job eliminations will be rolled out in January focusing onmanagement and administrative support jobs at Sempra’s corporateheadquarters and in its two California utilities, SouthernCalifornia Gas and San Diego Gas and Electric.