Feared

High Energy Costs So Far More Helpful Than Harmful, S&P Says

The skyrocketing global energy prices so far have not had the feared negative impacts on the overall U. S. economy and in some sectors, such as alternative energy development, may be a plus, according to a composite report from a panel of nine analysts at Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, speaking on a conference call Monday. An S&P economist attributed the lack of major negative impact so far to the fact that energy’s portion of the nation’s gross national product (GNP) is about half what it was a generation ago.

October 18, 2005

‘You’re Out!’ — Astros Toss Out Enron Logo

Locked into a 30-year naming rights agreement that Houston baseball fans feared would have led to a plethora of “strike out” jokes this year, Enron Corp. on Wednesday announced a settlement agreement that voids its contract with the Houston Astros Baseball Club and will remove the Enron logo from the city’s plush downtown stadium. The logo has been on the stadium since it was completed two years ago.

February 28, 2002

TransCanada Wins One, Loses One

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. won a reprieve from a feared revenuehemorrhage but lost a battle for rights to administer strongmedicine of its own making against recurrences of the threat. In aruling on lengthy, hard-fought winter hearings, the National EnergyBoard authorized TransCanada to raise floor prices forinterruptible delivery service on excess capacity to 80% of ratesfor firm service from 50%, effective May 1. But the NEB rejectedpleas by the pipeline to decide independently on setting variableminimum charges on leftover space depending on its reading ofmarket conditions.

April 17, 2000

TransCanada Wins One, Loses One

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. won a reprieve from a feared revenuehemorrhage but lost a battle for rights to administer strongmedicine of its own making against recurrences of the threat. In aruling on lengthy, hard-fought winter hearings, the National EnergyBoard authorized TransCanada to raise floor prices forinterruptible delivery service on excess capacity to 80% of ratesfor firm service from 50%, effective May 1. But the NEB rejectedpleas by the pipeline to decide independently on setting variableminimum charges on leftover space depending on its reading ofmarket conditions.

April 17, 2000