Representing

A group representing qualifying facility (QF) generators last week called on FERC to immediately order California’s two troubled investor-owned utilities to provide “interconnection, scheduling, transmission and related services” to QF plants in California, and to “cease and desist” from carrying out actions that are blocking sales of QF power.

A group representing qualifying facility (QF) generators has called on FERC to immediately order California’s two troubled investor-owned utilities to provide “interconnection, scheduling, transmission and related services” to QF plants in California, and to “cease and desist” from carrying out actions that are blocking sales of QF power.

Through a new partnership with Alliant Energy IndustrialServices, the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency, representing 10municipal utilities in South Carolina, has taken its next step toprepare its members and customers for a competitive electricmarketplace.

California’s rural counties representing powerful water andagricultural interests that have always carried a lot of clout instate political arenas have stepped into the ongoing electricitypublic debate advocating changes in the auction process in thestate-run wholesale spot power market.

Despite a sharp increase in drilling activity recently,financial reports from 21 large producers, representing about 35%of total U.S. gas production, show a decline of 4% from last year’sthird quarter gas production and 3% from the first nine months of1998.

Despite a sharp increase in drilling activity recently,financial reports from 21 large producers, representing about 32%of total U.S. gas production, show a gas production decline of 4%from last year’s third quarter levels and 3% from the first ninemonths of 1998.

NiSource Chairman Gary Neale said his company has been meetingwith shareholders representing more than 30% of Columbia EnergyGroup’s outstanding common stock, including six of the eightlargest shareholders, and has found the investors eager to see thetwo companies begin negotiations on a potential merger transaction.

Representing the latest curve on what has become a very windyroad, Southwest Gas announced Wednesday it is reviewing SouthernUnion’s revised merger offer even though it already entered into amerger agreement with Oneok earlier this week. With two offers onthe table, Southwest Gas has said it will not comment further onthe subject until a decision is made, and industry analysts say thedecision will not be easy.

TransTexas Gas Corp. of Houston said last week, followingdiscussions with a group representing a majority of its parentcompany’s note holders, it voluntarily filed for Chapter 11bankruptcy. The company said it believes the filing will allow forcompletion of its recapitalization involving TransTexas and parent,TransAmerican Energy Corp. Details of the recapitalization plan areexpected to be filed in bankruptcy court within 30 days.