Owning

The State of Alaska has hired Petrie Parkman & Co. of Denver to act as a financial adviser to evaluate the state’s potential participation in owning an interest in or financing a North Slope natural gas pipeline project. Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles has proposed federal legislation that would mandate a natural gas pipeline along the Alaska Highway, and called for federal tax incentives to enable companies to bring North Slope gas to market. Petrie Parkman will assist the Alaska commissioner of revenue in preparing a comprehensive report addressing options for and analysis of the state’s potential participation in a gas pipe project. The assistance was provided under the authority of Alaska’s Senate Bill 158. The report, when completed, would be presented to the governor and the state legislature and would include an examination of each of the announced North Slope pipe proposals. The report also would analyze whether and how the state could take an equity ownership or other financial interest in the project.

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker indicated last week thattransmission-owning utilities are intentionally submitting sub-parcompliance filings in response to the Commission’s regionaltransmission organization (RTO) rule to delay the onslaught of fullcompetition in the bulk power market for as long as possible.

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker indicated earlier this week thattransmission-owning utilities are intentionally submitting sub-parcompliance filings in response to the Commission’s regionaltransmission organization (RTO) rule to delay the onslaught of fullcompetition in the bulk power market for as long as possible.

Enron’s days as an electric utility are coming to an end. Afteronly two years of owning Oregon-based Portland General Electric(PGE), Enron has decided to part with the company for a small gainthrough a sale to fellow western utility Sierra Pacific Resources.