Explores

Kansas-based Western Resources is exploring “several strategic alternatives” for its electric utility operations, which include finding a merger partner as it attempts to separate its regulated and unregulated assets and strengthen its market position. If a merger partner can’t be found, Western plans to look at other options for its two electric utilities, KPL and KGE. It may form a strategic alliance with other companies, partner with another electric or gas utility or possibly even sell them outright.

Kansas-based Western Resources is exploring “several strategicalternatives” for its electric utility operations, which includefinding a merger partner as it attempts to separate its regulatedand unregulated assets and strengthen its market position. If amerger partner can’t be found, Western plans to look at otheroptions for its two electric utilities, KPL and KGE. It may form astrategic alliance with other companies, partner with anotherelectric or gas utility or possibly even sell them outright.

Maybe the third time will be a charm for El Paso Natural Gas.After two failed open seasons — one of which ended last week —the pipeline is left holding the greater part of the 1.35 BBtu/d ofsoon-to-be-available firm capacity on its system. El Paso now hopesto do a negotiated arrangement for the California-bound capacity— similar to the one it worked out with Dynegy Marketing andTrade two years ago.

Maybe the third time will be a charm for El Paso Natural Gas.After two failed open seasons — one of which ended this week —the pipeline still is left holding the greater part of the 1.35BBtu/d of soon-to-be-available firm capacity on its system. El Pasonow hopes to do a negotiated arrangement for the California-boundcapacity-similar to the one it worked out with Dynegy Marketing andTrade two years ago.

Virginia Gas Co., a small integrated natural gas companyoperating in the southwestern tip of Virginia, has selectedOppenheimer Corp. as its financial advisor to conduct an evaluationof the company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and strategicalternatives available.

Virginia Gas Co., a small integrated natural gas companyoperating in the southwestern tip of Virginia, has selectedOppenheimer Corp. as its financial advisor to conduct an evaluationof the company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and strategicalternatives available.

As part of broad-based statewide investigation the first half of1999, California will explore possibilities for opening upelectricity distribution to competition as an extension of thestate’s ongoing energy industry restructuring. Potential impact onthe natural gas industry will be part of the investigation orderedearlier this month by the California Public Utilities Commission.