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In order to keep pace with Maryland gas deregulation, WashingtonGas filed a rate plan with the Maryland Public Service Commission(MPSC) last week, proposing a five-year rate freeze and credits oncustomer bills if the company’s return on equity (ROE) exceeds 12%.Washington Gas hopes to have the filing approved this fall.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) unanimously decidedearlier this week to allow customers to switch from Atlanta GasLight (AGL) after the previously-determined Aug. 11 deadline, thedate when market share is determined among the competing suppliers.Commissioner Robert Baker said the vote will help dispel the rumorof August 11 being a drop-dead date.

In order to keep pace with Maryland’s gas deregulation,Washington Gas filed a rate plan with the Maryland Public ServiceCommission (MPSC) yesterday, in which the utility proposed afive-year rate freeze and plan that would result in credits oncustomers’ bills if the company’s return on equity (ROE) exceeds12%. Washington Gas hopes to have the filing approved this fall.

South Jersey Gas Co. filed a petition with New Jersey’s Board ofPublic Utilities (BPU) to increase eligibility in its customerchoice pilot program from 25,000 to 50,000. The announcement marksthe second time in the past 12 months the utility has increased thesize of its pilot. The BPU has set Dec. 31 as a deadline to definecomplete statewide gas deregulation. South Jersey said 22,000customers have participated in the program. The utility serves260,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in thestate.

Conoco yesterday held its first meeting of stockholders in 18years following the company’s record-setting $4.4 billion initialpublic offering in October 1998, that launched Conoco’s eventualseparation from DuPont. Conoco CEO Archie Dunham said the finalsplit-off from DuPont is expected to occur in the third quarter ofthis year when DuPont will offer its shareholders the opportunityto exchange DuPont shares for Conoco shares.

LG&E Energy Corp. utility subsidiaries Louisville Gas andElectric and Kentucky Utilities received orders from the KentuckyPublic Service Commission (PSC) implementing performance-basedratemaking (PBR) effective July 2.

The New York State Public Service Commission (NYPSC) approvedthe merger of Consolidated Edison of New York and Orange andRockland Utilities. NYPSC Chairman Maureen O. Helmer said Consumerswill benefit from the strength of the companies’ combinedmanagement and from merger-related savings over the next fiveyears.

A partnership between Sempra Energy International and PublicService Enterprise Group (PSEG) won approval from the board ofdirectors for Chilquinta S.A. to buy Chilquinta Energia, for $830million, Chilquinta announced Tuesday. Chilquinta Energia isChile’s third-largest electricity supplier, serving 405,000customers. Along with Chilean electricity supply, the Sempra – PSEGpartnership would acquire Energas, a Chilean natural gasdistribution company. Energas began service in May of 1998 andplans to reach 50,000 customers by 2003. Both Sempra and PSEG saidthe deal will progress their Latin America growth strategies andlook forward to entering into the Chilean electric market, whichhas grown 8% each year since 1991, compared to 1%-2% in the U.S.The deal is contingent on the buyers’ review and approval ofschedules for the definitive stock purchase agreement. Both Sempraand PSEG expect the purchase to be accretive in 1999. The $830million would net 90% of Chilquinta Energia’s stock for thepartnership. Upon final acquisition, Sempra and PSEG will be ableto make a tender offer to acquire the remaining 10 percent ofChilquinta Energia shares from other shareholders.

Panda Energy International Inc. and PSEG Americas, part ofPublic Service Enterprise Group, announced 50-50 joint ventureTexas Independent Energy to develop and operate high efficiency,low-cost electric power generating plants in Texas.