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Canadian 88 Energy Corp., which has been undergoing a series of changes as it refocuses its interests in Alberta, said Friday that its board of directors has voted to rename the Calgary-based independent to Esprit Exploration Ltd. If approved as expected, the new name would be implemented “shortly thereafter,” said the company.

ChevronTexaco Inc. (CVX) on Friday said it was unwilling to resume oil production in Nigeria after a series of ethnic clashes forced evacuation earlier this month. Royal Dutch/Shell Group stopped its production in the western Niger Delta last Wednesday, and also has not decided when to return to the region.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week issued a series of rulings that would pave the way for new pipeline and expansion projects proposed by Colorado Interstate Gas (CIG), Southern Natural Gas (Sonat), East Tennessee Natural Gas, Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco) and Petal Gas Storage LLC.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday issued a series of rulings that would pave the way for new pipeline and expansion projects proposed by Colorado Interstate Gas (CIG), Southern Natural Gas (Sonat), East Tennessee Natural Gas, Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco) and Petal Gas Storage LLC.

American Electric Power (AEP) spilled its guts on Friday, announcing a long series of negative conditions, including the removal of about $1.6 billion in common equity from its balance sheet in the fourth quarter, plans to cut its dividend by 40% and reduce its work force, and fourth quarter and full-year net losses. But credit rating agency Standard & Poors expressed confidence in the measures the company is taking to right its financial ship. AEP earnings fell sharply initially on Friday but ended the day down only 5% to $25.65.

A FERC administrative law judge (ALJ) urged the full Commission last Thursday to dismiss a series of complaints brought by power companies in Nevada, California and Washington seeking to reform above-market electric contracts that they entered into with generators during the height of the western energy crisis in 2000 and 2001.

Consumer advocates are expected to be out in force for a series of public hearings scheduled by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on a substantial rate increase request by Las-Vegas, NV-based Southwest Gas Corp.

FERC last Wednesday set for hearing a series of complaints filed by power companies in Nevada, California, and Washington state asking the commission to modify contracts entered into with generators in late 2000 and early 2001. The complaints assert that prices for long-term wholesale power in the contracts were the result of dysfunctional western markets and should be modified to reduce the prices of the contracts to current market levels.

The Bush administration was dealt a series of blows last week in its attempt to withhold secret documents of Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force from public scrutiny.