Houses

In declaring that “four years of debate is enough,” President Bush Wednesday night urged both houses of Congress to pass broad energy legislation during the upcoming months.

House lawmakers last Tuesday voted out the omnibus Republican-crafted energy bill by a wide margin for the second time in nearly seven months, sending it to the Senate in hopes of jump-starting action on the stalled bill in that chamber.

House lawmakers on Tuesday voted out the omnibus Republican-crafted energy bill by a wide margin for the second time in nearly seven months, sending it to the Senate in hopes of jump-starting action on the stalled bill in that chamber.

Florida-based FPL Group Inc., the largest power company in oneof the fastest growing states, has agreed to buy New Orleans-basedEntergy Corp. for $13.9 billion in stock and assumed debt to formthe largest utility in the United States. When the deal is done,the new company will serve 6.3 million customers and have acombined generating capacity of more than 48,000 MW.

Following critical reviews by two major investment houses, Hagerstown, MD-based Allegheny Energy last week announced it is slashing its expected 2002 earnings guidance and is executing plans to reduce operating and capital expenditures for the rest of the year and beyond, including the cancellation of a combined 1,168 MW of planned generation in Arizona and Indiana and the elimination of about 10% of its workforce, or 600 jobs. Having already eliminated eight positions from its energy marketing and trading division in the second quarter, officials with Allegheny Energy last week weren’t ruling out the possibility of further cuts from that part of company as part of the overall head count reduction.

Due to Houston area flooding, the Greenway 9 Plaza building that houses Tennessee’s Transportation Services Department is closed until further notice, the pipeline said Tuesday. Volume analysts can be reached at alternative phone numbers listed on the bulletin board. Affiliate ANR is also being affected by the disruption of power and communications at Greenway 9. Customers may use cell phone numbers for ANR representatives (provided on the bulletin board) or call Joseph Pollard, director, transportation services, at (713) 724-3095.

Florida-based FPL Group Inc., the largest power company in oneof the fastest growing states, has agreed to buy New Orleans-basedEntergy Corp. for $13.9 billion in stock and assumed debt to formthe largest utility in the United States. When the deal is done,the new company will serve 6.3 million customers and have acombined generating capacity of more than 48,000 MW.