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Dismissing an eleventh-hour attempt by a regional utility watchdog organization to hold up its pending merger, Akron, OH-based FirstEnergy Corp. reported last week that it has closed its merger with Morristown, NJ-based GPU Inc. The companies announced that the effective date of the merger was Nov. 7.

An eleventh-and-a-half-hour attempt to enact state legislation to rescue Southern California Edison Co. from the jaws of bankruptcy seemed headed for failure at mid-afternoon Friday when the California lawmakers were attempting their rush toward adjournment for the year by midnight.

American Electric Power (AEP) and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) last Wednesday said that they have reached a joint development agreement designed to improve the capacity and reliability of electric transmission systems in South and West Texas.

American Electric Power (AEP) and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) yesterday said that they have reached a joint development agreement designed to improve the capacity and reliability of electric transmission systems in South and West Texas.

Following more than a nine-hour delay to the start of the FERC meeting last Wednesday, a very divided Commission voted out a controversial market monitoring and mitigation plan in an attempt to bring some measure of sanity to wholesale power prices in the out-of-control California energy market over the next year.

Prefacing an hour-long discussion with investors on Friday,Enron Corp. COO Jeffrey Skilling said the rumors about theHouston-based energy giant, which have sent the company’s stockspiraling to a 52-week low, are mostly “noise,” with no basis infact. Skilling, who said his comments would be “short and sweet,”reiterated more than once that business from all four sectors is in”great shape.”

Following more than a nine-hour delay to the start of FERC meeting yesterday, a very divided Commission voted out a controversial market monitoring and mitigation plan that will attempt to tame wholesale power prices in the ailing California energy market over the next year.

Prefacing an hour-long discussion with investors on Friday, Enron Corp. COO Jeffrey Skilling said the rumors about the Houston-based energy giant, which have sent the company’s stock spiraling to a 52-week low, are mostly “noise,” with no basis in fact. Skilling, who said his comments would be “short and sweet,” reiterated more than once that business from all four sectors is in “great shape.”

Except for an hour of storage data-induced volatility from 2p.m. (EST) to 3 p.m. (EST), natural gas futures were quietyesterday as traders were reluctant to pressure prices outside therecent trading range. At the closing bell, April prices were 3.5cents stronger at $5.35.