Execs

Need a reason to embrace the future of the power industry? Howabout 10 reasons? Several U.S. utility executives last week offeredtheir upbeat take on the power generation and natural gas outlookfor the next five years, with El Paso Energy, Reliant Energy,Dynegy Inc. and Williams Energy Services giving a birds-eye view ofwhat’s ahead during a forum at PowerMart 2000 in Houston.

Need a reason to embrace the future of the power industry? Howabout 10 reasons? Several U.S. utility executives yesterday offeredtheir upbeat take on the power generation and natural gas outlookfor the next five years, with El Paso Energy, Reliant Energy,Dynegy Inc. and Williams Energy Services executives giving abirds-eye view of what’s ahead during an executive forum atPowerMart 2000 in Houston.

In less than two years, the energy industry has been transformedfrom a traditional service industry into a real-time convergence ofinformation, work flows, e-business and knowledge, and thosecompanies that don’t keep pace to benefit from the new age willbecome victims, regardless of what they have to offer.

In less than two years, the energy industry has been transformedfrom a traditional service industry into a real-time convergence ofinformation, work flows, e-business and knowledge, and thosecompanies that don’t keep pace to benefit from the new age willbecome victims, regardless of what they have to offer.

The $6 billion NiSource-Columbia merger is on its way down the homestretch, with only the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approvalleft in its path on the way to its predicted end of the yearcompletion date (see Daily GPI, July27). To ensure that the combined company moves through thetransition process smoothly, NiSource announced more post-mergerleadership positions for its lengthy list of business units.

A number of top energy executives lined up last week to lendtheir support to House Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas J.Bliley’s (R-VA) draft proposal that would give FERC solejurisdiction over all interstate transmission in the United States— including the transmission associated with bundled retailtransactions, as well as the interstate facilities operated byBonneville Power Administration, the Tennessee Valley Authority,cooperatives, municipals and utilities in Texas.

Archie W. Dunham, chairman and CEO of Conoco Inc., is thehighest paid executive of all the energy companies eitherheadquartered in Houston, TX, or with a significant local presencethere, according an annual ranking by the Houston Chronicle thatwas released last week.

Archie W. Dunham, chairman and CEO of Conoco Inc., is thehighest paid executive of all the energy companies eitherheadquartered in Houston, TX, or with a significant local presencethere, according an annual ranking by the Houston Chronicle thatwas released yesterday.

Commodity prices are up, and the financial performance of anumber of energy companies is on the rise. The question being askedthis week in Houston is why are Wall Streeters treating energycompany stocks like ugly stepchildren?