Exercising

Not swayed by the utility’s request for a decision before the end of April, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) said Wednesday it was exercising its option to delay for six months retail electricity and natural gas rate increases requested in March by Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities for its operations in Idaho.

BG Group plc Thursday fired another warning shot at its North American competition after exercising an option to acquire a bigger stake in a prospective natural gas development offshore Trinidad. BG’s offer preempts a $142.5 million cash offer by Centrica plc.

BG Group plc has fired another warning shot at its North American competition after exercising an option to acquire a bigger stake in a prospective natural gas development offshore Trinidad. BG’s offer preempts a $142.5 million cash offer by Centrica plc.

Union Drilling Inc. said it is continuing a focus on unconventional gas drilling by exercising an option with National Oilwell Varco LP to acquire three new drilling rigs, which will be deployed in the northern Texas Barnett Shale formation under multi-year contracts. Delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter.

Exercising a new prerogative created by a state law passed lastyear, California Gov. Gray Davis last week named one of his closeadvisers and newest regulators, attorney Loretta Lynch, to bepresident of the five-member California Public UtilitiesCommission, which oversees the restructuring of the energyindustries, along with telecommunications, water, trucking andpublic transportation.

Exercising a new prerogative created by a state law passed lastyear, California Gov. Gray Davis this week named one of his closeadvisers and newest regulators, attorney Loretta Lynch, to bepresident of the five-member California Public UtilitiesCommission, which oversees the restructuring of the energyindustries, along with telecommunications, water, trucking andpublic transportation.