Serving

WPS Resources Corp. completed the $315 million acquisition of natural gas distribution operations serving 161,000 customers in Michigan from Aquila Inc. Annual gas throughput from the Michigan operations totals 36 Bcf/year, and the distribution system includes a 3.6 Bcf storage field. The assets operate under a cost-of-service environment and are currently allowed an 11.4% authorized return on equity on a 45% equity component of the regulatory capital structure. “This acquisition is a great strategic fit with our existing operations given the geographic and operational profile of our combined asset base,” said WPS Chairman said Larry Weyers. “We are building the scale and scope of our regulated operations in a jurisdiction where we already operate. Natural gas distribution is a core business for us.” Weyers said that WPS Resources will not reduce field staff, but instead is welcoming the 182 Michigan employees into its existing ranks of 2,945 employees. The assets will be owned and operated by WPS Resources’ wholly owned subsidiary, Michigan Gas Utilities Corp. The Minnesota portion of the acquisition announced in September 2005 is expected to close in the first half of 2006. Combined with the acquired Michigan assets, WPS will serve roughly 469,000 gas customers through its regulated utilities with annual natural gas throughput of 118.6 Bcf. WPS already serves more than 476,000 electric customers through its regulated electric utilities.

A coalition of Pennsylvania state agencies has joined with utilities serving the state in lobbying to establish a pilot program in Pennsylvania to receive a share of natural gas collected as royalties by the federal government as an additional resource for helping low-income families this winter.

Kansas regulators have begun an investigation into why Oneok Field Services is the only gathering company serving the Hugoton field that has reported problems with high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) in its natural gas supply and has moved to disconnect service to local distribution customers (LDCs) as a result.

Kansas regulators have begun an investigation into why Oneok Field Services is the only gathering company serving the Hugoton field that has reported problems with high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) in its natural gas supply and has moved to disconnect service to local distribution customers (LDCs) as a result.

Although serving as headquarters for one of the nation’s major energy providers, San Diego County’s elected board voted unanimously Tuesday to continue to buy its own natural gas and electricity and to pursue a state-backed loan to further solarize its county government facilities. Past efforts have resulted in reducing the county government’s annual power bill by $655,000, the county has calculated.

Although serving as headquarters for one of the nation’s major energy providers, San Diego County’s elected board voted unanimously Tuesday to continue to buy its own natural gas and electricity and to pursue a state-backed loan to further solarize its county government facilities. Past efforts have resulted in reducing the county government’s annual power bill by $655,000, the county has calculated.

The two major interstate natural gas pipelines serving hurricane-ravaged Florida — Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) and Gulfstream Natural Gas System — reported last Monday they survived Charley with nary a scratch, but that their gas deliveries into the Sunshine State were down due to the number of their customers (power generation plants) that were off-line. But by the end of the week, both pipelines said their deliveries had returned to their normal levels.

The two major interstate natural gas pipelines serving hurricane-ravaged Florida — Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) and Gulfstream Natural Gas System — reported they survived Charley with nary a scratch, but that their gas deliveries into the Sunshine State were down due to the number of their customers (power generation plants) that were off-line.

TSX Group Inc., the parent company of the Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange, Canada’s two national exchanges serving the senior equity and public venture equity markets, said Tuesday that it will purchase 100% of NGX Canada Inc., which operates a large natural gas and electricity trading and clearing exchange, for C$38 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter and is subject to regulatory approvals.