Largest

Southern Co., the largest electric generator in the country,still plans to hire 1,000 more people before the end of the year,the company said yesterday. Many of the job openings are in theunregulated sector. So far in 1999, the company has filled 2,000vacant or new positions.

After five years as head of one of Canada’s largest energycompanies, George Watson submitted his resignation to TransCanada’sboard of directors last week citing “personal reasons.” Theresignation, which becomes effective July 31, comes just weeksbefore the company plans to announce a structural shake-up,designed to support its strategic direction. No details of thereorganization are being divulged at this time, a company spokesmansaid.

Enron Energy Services (EES) inked its largest energy management outsourcing contract last Tuesday, as Suiza Food Corp., a Dallas-based manufacturer and distributor of dairy products, agreed to receive comprehensive energy management services at more than 50 manufacturing facilities in 24 states. The contract continues EES’ outsourcing success, marking the fourth major deal in the last five months.

After five years as head of one of Canada’s largest energy companies, George Watson submitted his resignation to TransCanada’s board of directors last week citing “personal reasons.” The resignation, which becomes effective July 31, comes just weeks before the company plans to announce a structural shake-up designed to support its strategic direction. No details of the reorganization are being divulged at this time, a company spokesman said.

Michigan’s two largest electric utilities – Consumers Energy,the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, and Detroit Edison, theprincipal operating subsidiary of DTE Energy – plan to implementthe Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) electricrestructuring plan and offer electric customer choice this fall.The announcement follows the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling onJune 29 establishing implementation of electric customer choice asa voluntary action undertaken at the discretion of utilities.

The Department of Defense intends to award the federalgovernment’s largest energy-saving performance contract ever toPepco Energy Services and Viron Energy Services. Pepco EnergyServices is a subsidiary of Potomac Electric Power Co. Viron EnergyServices is a subsidiary of York International Corp. President BillClinton announced the $200 million contract, designed to implementenergy-savings measures for the Military District of Washington(MDW). The MDW is a major Army command encompassing five Armyposts: Fort George G. Meade in Maryland; Fort Myer, Fort Belvoirand Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia; and Fort Lesley J. McNair inWashington, DC. More than 2,100 buildings were examined for energyimprovements. The 18-year MDW contract will result in about $220million in overall cost savings.

“We are standing on the doorstep of some of America’s largestenergy-consuming markets: Boston, New York City, Chicago,Dallas-Fort Worth, San Francisco and Los Angeles. We believe therewill be about a half-dozen national energy providers. SouthernCompany intends to be one of those companies.”

Avista Corp. affiliate Avista Power and STEAG AG, Germany’slargest independent power producer agreed to form a joint ventureto develop, build and/or buy electric generation assets throughoutNorth America. Initial regions of interest include the Northwest,the Southwest and the Southeast. Projects of interest include thosepowered by natural gas, coal and hydro.

Avista Corp. affiliate Avista Power and STEAG AG, Germany’slargest independent power producer agreed to form a joint ventureto develop, build and/or buy electric generation assets throughoutNorth America. Initial regions of interest include the Northwest,the Southwest and the Southeast. Projects of interest include thosepowered by natural gas, coal and hydro.