Gaining

Unregulated natural gas and power marketing businesses, including power generation, reported record earnings of $9.3 billion in 2000, up more than 80% from the $5.1 billion posted in 1999, far out-distancing earnings growth in the regulated natural gas and electric distribution segment, according to Energy Performance Review (EPR).

Unregulated natural gas and power marketing businesses, including power generation, reported record earnings of $9.3 billion in 2000, up more than 80% from the $5.1 billion posted in 1999, far out-distancing earnings growth in the regulated natural gas and electric distribution segment, according to Energy Performance Review (EPR).

Although California officials were gaining optimism from new electric generation plants finally coming on line last week and others expected to come on line in the next two weeks, there were signs that the electron rush of the past few years may peter out if the current uncertainties surrounding the state’s electricity markets continue to fester.

Although California officials are gaining optimism from new electric generation plants finally coming on line today and in the next two weeks, there are signs that the electron rush of the past few years may peter out if the current uncertainties surrounding the state’s electricity markets continue to fester.

Online energy trading will reach $3.6 trillion in 2005, fueled primarily by the growth of financial derivatives, according to a new report by Forrester Research. The report predicts several newcomers eventually will catch up to EnronOnline (EOL), the clear e-commerce leader in 2000, but several other independent exchanges could become casualties in the next few years.

Public Service Co. of New Mexico is gaining a strong presence inthe Midwest/Midcontinent power market with the $4.4 billionpurchase, including debt assumption, of Western Resources’utilities. The proposed merger would create a new Albuquerque-basedholding company serving more than one million retail electriccustomers and 400,000 retail gas customers in New Mexico andKansas, with a generating capacity of more than 7,000 MW.

Public Service Co. of New Mexico is gaining a strong presence inthe Midwest/Midcontinent power market with the $4.4 billionpurchase, including debt assumption, of Western Resources’utilities. The proposed merger would create a new Albuquerque-basedholding company serving more than one million retail electriccustomers and 400,000 retail gas customers in New Mexico andKansas, with a generating capacity of more than 7,000 MW.

PG&E Corp. is the latest energy giant to seek a toehold inthe fast-growing Arizona merchant power plant market, gaining aninitial state approval last week, but facing up to a half-dozencounty, state and federal environmental reviews for a proposed $500million, 1,040 MW natural gas-fired plant near Phoenix.

California’s two government-created, private sector nonprofitcreatures of electric industry restructuring, the power exchange(PX) and grid operator (ISO), continued enhancement of theiroperations with an eye toward becoming regional entities withinfluence through the 12-state Western Systems Coordinating Council(WSCC) and parts of Canada and Mexico.