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Outsourcing of pipes and wires energy delivery lines of businessin North America will increase significantly over the next fouryears, according to a study conducted by META Group’s EnergyInformation Strategies (EIS).

Minneapolis-based Northern States Power Co. will add about 5,000natural gas and 15,000 propane customers in four states through theacquisition of Natrogas Inc., also of Minneapolis. The dealrequires regulatory approval.

About 20,000 Natrogas Inc. gas and propane customers in fourstates will be added to Northern States Power Co.’s (NSP) utilitybusiness pending regulatory approval of a merger announcedyesterday.

Tatham Offshore said yesterday that four of its subsidiaries,including Rigco North America LLC, FPS III, FPS V and FPS VI, whichown virtually all the company’s operating assets, filed for reliefunder Chapter 11 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the SouthernDistrict of Texas earlier this week.

Nova Scotia regulators kicked off competition for gasdistribution rights in the province last week, and so far fourplayers have come forward with plans to deliver the first SableIsland gas production to come ashore next fall. A Sempra Energysubsidiary; Scotia Advantage, a partnership of Consumers Gas andNova Scotia Power; Sask Energy; and Maritimes NRG all plan tosubmit proposals to distribute gas in the province.

After a four-year wait, Cincinnati Gas &amp Electric Co. and PSIResources finally received unconditional approval of their mergerinto Cinergy Corp. from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Afinal decision on the merger was held up by potential Congressionalaction on the Public Utility Holding Company Act.

The four gas trade associations are seriously considering askingFERC this week to extend by 74 days the deadline for industrycomments on the major notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) andnotice of inquiry (NOI) that were issued in July.

The Board of Directors of KeySpan Energy appointed four newofficers. Frederick M. Lowther, 54, of Dickstein Shapiro Morin& Oshinsky has been named general counsel. Steven L. Zelkowitz,49, has been named senior vice president and deputy generalcounsel. Michael J. Taunton, 42, has been named vice president ofinvestor relations. Lawrence S. Dryer, 39, has been named vicepresident of internal audit.

PG&ampE Gas Transmission-Texas has announced a reorganization ofits business into four major lines: field services, transmissionand storage services, gas marketing and supply, and natural gasliquids (NGL) marketing and development.