Neighboring

In what is becoming an extremely verbose war between neighboring South Dakota energy holding companies, NorthWestern Corp. Monday fired off another letter to its pursuer, Black Hills Corp., reiterating that its board has not rejected the Black Hills’ offer to start serious merger talks, and it wants to consider the offer as one of several strategic alternatives, but only after a confidentiality agreement between the two companies is hammered out. Black Hills is balking at the current confidentiality proposal.

Broadening its scope in the wake of a pending offer from neighboring South Dakota-based Black Hills Corp., NorthWestern Corp.’s board of directors met Tuesday to “consider potential strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value,” the company said in a formal announcement. It confirmed that the potential $1.25 billion Black Hills offer was among the alternatives being examined (see Daily GPI, Nov. 29).

Neighboring California utilities, Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. and Edison International’s Southern California Edison Co., traded accusations during the opening last week of evidentiary hearings in an 18-month-old state regulatory investigation of the wholesale natural gas market during the state’s energy crisis in 2000-2001.

Neighboring California utilities, Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. and Edison International’s Southern California Edison Co., traded accusations during the opening last week of evidentiary hearings in an 18-month-old state regulatory investigation of the wholesale natural gas market during the state’s energy crisis in 2000-2001. SoCalGas has had to fight off relentless accusations by Edison that the gas utility and its Sempra affiliate, San Diego Gas and Electric Co., constrained supplies from storage to push up wholesale gas prices.

Charlotte, NC-based Piedmont Natural Gas, expanding its service into neighboring territory, has completed its purchase of North Carolina Natural Gas (NCNG) and a 50% interest in the EasternNC project from Progress Energy

The United States could extend its environmental reach into neighboring Mexico if a bipartisan congressional effort launched last week results in new restrictions on natural gas fired power plants developed from this year onward within 50 miles of the U.S. border. Proposed legislation has been offered by a San Diego-based U.S. congressman and the two senators from California to ban the export of U.S. natural gas to plants in Mexico that don’t meet U.S. air quality standards.

Regulatory review of Northwest Natural Gas Corp.’s proposed purchase of its neighboring utility, Portland General Electric, from bankrupt Enron was suspended Tuesday for 60 days at Northwest Natural’s request so that it can more fully answer questions concerning how the bankruptcy might materially affect the $2.98 billion acquisition. The earliest estimated target for a final decision from the Oregon Public Utilities Commission is now the fall of this year; it had been late May.

California doesn’t have the patent on an overburdened natural gas pipeline infrastructure. The problems facing neighboring Arizona are equally, if not more, critical, state regulators contend.

California doesn’t have the patent on an overburdened natural gas pipeline infrastructure. The problems facing neighboring Arizona are equally, if not more, critical, state regulators contend.