Increasingly

It is becoming increasingly obvious that San Diego-based SempraEnergy is going to make a full-court press in its nonutilitybusiness units, seeking to get one-third of its earnings from thosebusinesses collectively in less than three years, according to itssoon-to-be CEO Steve Baum, the current president and COO. To hitthe earnings goal, Sempra’s nonutility businesses need to approach$275 million in collective profits, Baum told employees recently.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that San Diego-based SempraEnergy is going to make a full-court press in its nonutilitybusiness units, seeking to get one-third of its earnings from thosebusinesses collectively in less than three years, according to itssoon-to-be CEO Steve Baum, the current president and COO. To hitthe earnings goal, Sempra’s nonutility businesses need to approach$275 million in collective profits, Baum told employees recently.

American businesses-from financial institutions andsophisticated manufacturing plants to established farms-areincreasingly interested generating their own electricity onlocation, according to a national survey. Some of these businessesplan to upgrade currently installed back-up generation equipmentwithin the next 12 months, according to the study. These companies,together with businesses seeking increased control of operations,lower costs, or fewer power disruptions, add up to a viablestart-up market for on-site power plants, the survey said.

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.

Although no panic buttons have been pushed yet, the Kansas City Board of Trade (KCBT) is getting increasingly worried about the recent lack of activity on its gas futures contract. There has been no estimated volume since July 29, and as a result, open interest has been stuck at 669 positions.

Although no panic buttons are being pushed yet, the Kansas CityBoard of Trade (KCBT) is getting increasingly worried about therecent lack of activity on its gas futures contract. There has beenno estimated volume since July 29, and as a result, open interesthas been stuck at 669 positions.

Significant savings are increasingly hard to come by for large,multi-facility energy users even with the help of outside energyexperts, according to panelists last week discussing energymanagement outsourcing at NGI’s GasMart/Power ’99 in Dallas.

Significant savings are increasingly hard to come by for large,multi-facility energy users even when using outside energy expertsin the face of volatile commodity markets and increasing pressuresinside their companies to show significant returns on investments,according to panelists yesterday discussing energy managementoutsourcing Monday at GasMart/Power ’99 in Dallas.