Kansas

Kansas City, MO-based UtiliCorp United has completed its previously announced short-form merger of its Aquila Inc. subsidiary with a UtiliCorp subsidiary. In November 2001, UtiliCorp unveiled its plans to buy back the 20% of its trading and risk management arm, Aquila, that it sold to the public earlier in 2001 and adopt Aquila as its corporate name (see Daily GPI, Nov. 8, 2001).

Kansas City, MO-based UtiliCorp United Inc. has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for authorization “as soon as practicable” to re-acquire the nearly 20% interest in its natural gas and power marketer, Aquila Inc., that it sold to the public earlier in the year. Upon the completion of the transaction, the company plans to adopt Aquila as its corporate name possibly as early as the first quarter of 2002.

Kansas City, MO-based Aquila Inc. said on Monday that its Radius Group has released its latest risk management product, Risk180(SM), which provides clients with full-service management of their commodity transactions delivered daily, weekly or monthly via the Internet.

Kansas City, MO-based Aquila Inc. reported Wednesday that it posted a staggering second-quarter net income of $101.3 million ($1.05 per share), an increase of 367% over the prior year’s second-quarter net income of $21.7 million ($0.25 per share). The sizeable increase was led by the company’s wholesale services segment, which boasted an earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $148.5 million, compared to the segment’s $25.3 million posted during the second quarter of 2000. Aquila said that first-half EPS and net income exceed full-year 2000 results.

San Jose-based Calpine Corp. and Kansas City-based Aquila Inc. announced that the Aries Power Project near Pleasant Hill, MO, has begun simple-cycle operations. The 320 MW gas-fired facility will serve the growing electricity demand in the region.

A fire that resulted from a rupture on Williams’ Mid-America (liquids) Pipeline in a rural area north of Kansas City, MO Tuesday was brought under control and was essentially out by the end of the day, company officials said.

The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has extended its ColdWeather Rule emergency order and implemented a moratorium onservice disconnections for natural gas and electric service throughMay 31. The order provides emergency relief for customersstruggling to pay utility bills resulting from the record-breakingnatural gas prices this winter.

Due to forecasts of colder than normal temperatures in theKansas City metropolitan area, Williams implemented an OFOSaturday. The OFO was to remain in effect though Monday’s gas dayor until further notice.

Kansas City Power & Light yesterday announced theappointment of Bernard J. Beaudoin as CEO effective Jan.1, 2001.Beaudoin also will continue to be president as appointed in 1999.Beaudoin joined the company in 1980 as director of corporateplanning, and was named vice president of finance in 1984 andsenior vice president of finance in 1991. In 1992, he becamepresident and director of KLT Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary ofKCP&L. Beaudoin will be assuming the CEO title from DrueJennings who currently serves as chairman of the board. Jenningswill remain chairman until the company’s annual shareholders’meeting on May 1, 2001 when he will retire from KCP&L. Thecompany also announced the appointment of Andrea Bielsker to thepositions of CFO and vice president of finance & treasurer.Bielsker has been with the company since 1984.