Focusing

Continuing along its chosen path of focusing on its wholesale and energy risk management businesses, Kansas City, MO-based Aquila Inc. said on Monday that it has sold the retail energy manager services business of UtiliCorp Energy Solutions to Energy Management Resources Inc., a nationwide provider of energy supply management services to commercial and industrial customers throughout the United States.

The majors are focusing more of their spending attention on the domestic natural gas market, gobbling up gas-rich acquisitions, which has lowered their finding and development costs. Meanwhile, the independents’ spending is limited only by the lack of “drill ready” projects and experienced geoscience personnel, according to the latest exploration and production study by Salomon Smith Barney’s analysts Robert Morris and Michael Schmitz.

The majors are focusing more of their spending attention on the domestic natural gas market, gobbling up gas-rich acquisitions, which has lowered their finding and development costs. Meanwhile, the independents’ spending is limited only by the lack of “drill ready” projects and experienced geoscience personnel, according to the latest exploration and production study by Salomon Smith Barney’s analysts Robert Morris and Michael Schmitz.

FERC last week directed the Cross Bay Pipeline Co. L.L.C. torespond to a series of questions mostly focusing on the East Coastproject’s byzantine financial and capacity-lease arrangements thathave prompted protests from customers.

Oneok Inc. closed its $307.7 million acquisition of Dynegy’smidstream assets yesterday, and now is focusing on its other majorMidcontinent deal with Kinder Morgan.

Potomac Electric Power Co.’s (Pepco) strategy of getting out ofpower generation, focusing on its wires and distribution businessesand emphasizing its non-regulated side is in full swing, says theutility’s top executive.

Potomac Electric Power Co.’s (Pepco) strategy of getting out ofpower generation, focusing on its wires and distribution businessesand emphasizing its non-regulated side is in full swing, says theutility’s top executive.

KeySpan Energy, which has been focusing increasingly ondownstream and electric power activities, is considering the saleof its 64% ownership interest in E&P arm Houston Exploration.An announcement last week said KeySpan and Houston Exploration hadbegun a process to review “a full range of strategic transactions”and hired J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. as financial advisor.

KeySpan Energy, which has been focusing increasingly ondownstream and electric power activities, is considering the saleof its majority ownership of E&P arm, Houston Exploration. Anannouncement Monday said KeySpan and Houston Exploration had beguna process to review “a full range of strategic transactions” andhired J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. as financial advisor.