El Paso Corp. said it intends to cooperate fully with a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation that apparently is focused principally on the company’s power plant contract restructurings, related disclosures and accounting, including in particular its Eagle Point transaction that was completed last year.
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Texas Regulators Probe February Power Price Spikes
The market oversight division of the Public Utilities Commission of Texas(PUCTT) has launched an investigation into bid activity in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) markets late last month to determine whether any market participant exacerbated significant power price spikes seen at that time.
El Paso Slashes Dividend, Plans $2.9B in Sales; Shares Fall 42%
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered El Paso Corp.’s credit ratings to ‘B+’ from ‘BB’ on Friday, ending a long and difficult week, that included a 42% collapse in El Paso’s stock price to $4.92/share on Friday from Monday’s open. Investors dumped the company’s stock after it announced that it would cut its dividend 82% to 16 cents annually, sell off another $2.9 billion in assets and exit the rapidly growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) business.
FERC Demands Price Trade Data from Top Gas Marketers
As part of its continuing investigation into the manipulation of western energy markets, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week sent out data requests to the top natural gas marketers based on their 2001 physical sales volumes, seeking information related to gas prices submitted to energy trade newsletters that publish gas price indexes.
FERC Probes Whether Enron Partnerships Hid Wind Farm Stakes
FERC late Thursday said it is launching an investigation as a result of allegations that former Enron Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow and Enron executive Michael Kopper created partnerships to mask the former energy trading giant’s stake in three wind power farms.
FERC Probes Whether Enron Hid Wind Farm Stakes
FERC late Thursday said that it is launching an investigation as a result of allegations that former Enron CFO Andrew Fastow and Enron executive Michael Kopper created partnerships to mask the former energy trading giant’s stake in three wind power farms.
Enron Examiner to Scrutinize What Role SPEs Played in Company’s Downfall
With an initial investigation of several special purpose entities (SPEs) used by Enron Corp. completed, the court-appointed examiner now will carefully scrutinize “a number of significant questions” about the complex off-balance-sheet transactions, including what role they played in the company’s collapse, whether they were illegally used to manipulate financial statements, and if the SPEs were illegal, whether the officers, directors or professionals involved may be liable.
Enron Examiner to Scrutinize What Role SPEs Played in Company’s Downfall
With an initial investigation of several special purpose entities (SPEs) used by Enron Corp. completed, the court-appointed examiner now will carefully scrutinize “a number of significant questions” about the complex off-balance-sheet transactions, including what role they played in the company’s collapse, whether they were illegally used to manipulate financial statements, and if the SPEs were illegal, whether the officers, directors or professionals involved may be liable.
Peoples Energy Addresses ICC’s Trading Investigation
Peoples Energy CEO Thomas M. Patrick said a review by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) of the utility’s purchasing practices last year “will show that the company conducted its business prudently and that none of our practices increased costs to customers.” He added that the case is on a typical procedural schedule that would bring it to conclusion early in 2003.
Peoples Energy Addresses ICC’s Trading Investigation
Responding to news accounts of a motion to compel that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) staff recently filed as part of an annual review of gas purchasing practices for fiscal year 2001, Peoples Energy CEO Thomas M. Patrick said that the review involving the utility Peoples Gas “will show that the company conducted its business prudently and that none of our practices increased costs to customers.” He added that the case is on a typical procedural schedule that would bring it to conclusion early in 2003.