Possibly

Nymex President J. Robert “Bo” Collins has turned down a new contract with the exchange, possibly in response to a request to take a pay cut following a rumored disagreement with the board over a purchase offer by Boston-based equity firm Parthenon Capital LLC.

Nymex President J. Robert “Bo” Collins has turned down a new contract with the exchange, possibly in response to a request to take a pay cut following a rumored disagreement with the board over whether to accept an offer by Boston-based equity firm Parthenon Capital LLC to buy a majority stake in the exchange.

Taking over where FERC left off, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is testing the waters for possibly putting a new regulatory framework in place to ensure non-discriminatory open access to offshore gas and oil pipeline systems.

Dynegy Inc. confirmed Friday it is engaged in exclusive discussions with Chicago-based Exelon Corp. to possibly sell Illinois Power Co. (IP). The utility is the Houston-based company’s regulated business segment, which sells natural gas and electricity to Illinois customers.

Dynegy Inc. confirmed Friday it is engaged in exclusive discussions with Chicago-based Exelon Corp. to possibly sell Illinois Power Co. (IP). The utility is the Houston-based company’s regulated business segment, which sells natural gas and electricity to Illinois customers.

Four separate Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) entities could emerge from bankruptcy with BBB- ratings if all goes well with the company’s reorganization plan, Standard & Poor’s said Thursday. That means the bankruptcy court would have to approve the company’s plan to split itself into four units, and it would have to pass regulatory muster, meet certain financial conditions and be implemented within the expected time frame.

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) plans to investigate possibly reining in gas price volatility by allowing retail customers to sign fixed-price bills. The PSC will hold a roundtable discussion on the issue on Jan. 24.

While noting his company’s good fortune to be thriving currently in the otherwise troubled energy sector, Sempra Energy’s CEO Stephen Baum last week reiterated in a third quarter financial results conference call that the company wants to stay “flexible” so it can go after assets that are increasingly being sold at deep discounts. Baum specifically mentioned trading books as being on Sempra’s radar screen.

While noting his company’s good fortune to be thriving currently in the otherwise troubled energy sector, Sempra Energy’s CEO Stephen Baum Tuesday reiterated in a third quarter financial results conference call that the company wants to stay “flexible” so it can go after assets that are increasingly being sold at deep discounts. Baum specifically mentioned trading books as being on Sempra’s radar screen.