New Century Energies and Northern States Power, two mid-sizedcombination utilities, decided on marriage yesterday to create amuch larger company, fend off competitors and prepare for comingderegulation. Through a $4.7 billion merger of equals ($9 billionbased on combined market capitalization), the companies will createa Minneapolis-based electric and gas utility conglomerate with 3million power customers and 1.5 million gas customers in 12 statesfrom Mexico to Canada.
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Price Drops Tend to Be Larger Toward the East
The cash market split somewhat along geographical lines againMonday as overall softening grew greater going from West to East.Most Western points were flat to no more than 2-3 cents down, whileEastern declines mostly ranged from around a nickel to a dime.
Alberta Jumps Far Outpace General Price Firmness
The overall cash market was flat to slightly higher Monday, withlarger increases tending to occur in the Southwest basins,Rockies/Pacific Northwest and California border. But by far thehighest-flying price point was intra-Alberta, where a NOVA ruptureSaturday (see Transportation Notes) was keeping up to 1 Bcf/d offthe market. Gas that had been trading in the low C$1.50s Saturdaymorning prior to the rupture was up to the C$2.10 area Monday, aCalgary source said.
Aquila Forms Gas Marketing Alliance with Empire
Instead of spending much time and money building a larger directmarketing operation, Aquila Energy has formed a gas marketingpartnership with Empire District Electric Co., a Midcontinentregion electric utility, to target industrial customers in Empire’selectric service territory. Aquila said the deal is the first ofmultiple partnerships and alliances it plans to form in four keyregions of the country where the market is competitive and it has asignificant presence.
Deal Makes Williams Top-10 Power Marketer
A deal to sell gas to and market power from three Los Angelesgenerating facilities gives Williams a much larger foothold in theburgeoning California energy marketplace and boosts its position inboth gas and power marketer rankings.