Presided

Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling Tuesday lost a bid to have his convictions on 19 criminal counts overturned. U.S. District Judge Sim Lake, who presided over the four-month trial of Skilling and Enron founder Kenneth Lay, gave no explanation when she denied Skilling’s request.

The federal judge who presided over the criminal trial of Enron Corp. founder Kenneth Lay and ex-CEO Jeffrey Skilling on Friday agreed to delay the Sept. 11 sentencing of the two men. Their lawyers were given an extra six weeks to prepare arguments for the court that will ultimately determine how long the former executives spend in prison.

Looking to get to the bottom of current and forecasted high natural gas prices, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) presided over a special public hearing Thursday where it received testimony from utilities, consumers groups and government officials. The groups testified on current and projected natural gas prices, the forecasted supply and demand, programs to help consumers, and ways to increase consumer awareness related to gas prices for this winter. “This special hearing is an important first step for addressing potentially high natural gas prices,” said PUC Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli, who organized the hearing. Under the informal en banc hearing process, the commissioners posed questions to the speakers after their testimony. The speakers explained how higher natural gas prices during the upcoming heating season are going to affect their agencies, homes, businesses and funding abilities for 2003-04. “We look forward to working with each of the panel members in the days and months ahead as we learn more about what prices will be for the winter and what programs are available to Pennsylvania consumers,” said PUC Chairman Terrance J. Fitzpatrick.

El Paso Corp. announced Friday that Ralph Eads III, executive vice president, who presided over the company’s unregulated merchant energy and production businesses, left the company effective the end of December 2002 to pursue other opportunities.

El Paso Corp. announced Friday that Ralph Eads III, executive vice president, who presided over the company’s unregulated merchant energy and production businesses, left the company effective the end of December 2002 to pursue other opportunities.

Since taking over at FERC last month, Chairman Curt L. HebertJr. has presided over two regular Commission meetings with agendason the light side. But he promises activity will pick up soon.