Settle

In one of the largest settlements ever, the Houston-based company that was once run by Vice President Dick Cheney said the agreement resolves all present and future asbestos claims, allowing the $13 billion company to continue business as usual while providing for victims of asbestos exposure.

Tulsa, OK-based Oneok Inc. said Tuesday it has reached an agreement to settle a lawsuit that was brought by the family of an elderly couple who were killed following two explosions at a Kansas storage site in early 2001.

Putting to rest a long-running bitter feud, Southwest Gas has agreed to pay Southern Union $17.5 million to settle claims of fraud and bad faith breach of contract related to Southern Union’s attempts to purchase Southwest. Following on the mid-week announcement by the two companies, Oneok Inc. said Friday it had agreed to pay $3 million to Southwest Gas in settlement of other litigation related to the three-way wrangle.

Putting to rest a long-running bitter feud, Southwest Gas has agreed to pay Southern Union $17.5 million to settle claims of fraud and bad faith breach of contract related to Southern Union’s attempts to purchase Southwest.

FERC Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Curtis Wagner, who is overseeing settlement talks between generators and California officials related to the renegotiation of long-term wholesale electricity deals, last Thursday confirmed to the full Commission that settlements in principle have been reached with four sellers He is “optimistic that many, if not all” of an additional eight power suppliers involved in the talks will be able to reach settlement as well. Several offers and counteroffers between California and the eight sellers are “global in nature” and would resolve all pending claims, including those in a refund case pending at FERC and in the California state courts.

Shell Oil has will pay the state of Alabama $27 million plus another $6.4 million in legal fees to settle accusations the company underpaid natural gas royalties for drilling in state waters. Shell denied any wrongdoing.

The Williams Cos. expects a restructuring of $1.4 billion in notes issued by the WCG Note Trust, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Williams Communications Group Inc., to be completed in the “very near future,” after favorable talks with investors.

Northern Illinois Gas Co. (Nicor Gas) has agreed to pay nearly $4.1 million for its role in mercury leaks and improper disposal over a 10-year period of some of its gas regulators that were replaced by the utility in its service area. The agreement, approved by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Paul P. Biebel, was reached on Wednesday between Nicor Gas and the Illinois attorney general and the state’s attorneys of Cook, DuPage and Will counties.

Northern Illinois Gas Co. (Nicor Gas) has agreed to pay nearly $4.1 million for its role in mercury leaks and improper disposal over a 10-year period of some of its gas regulators that were replaced by the utility in its service area. The agreement, approved by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Paul P. Biebel, was reached on Wednesday between Nicor Gas and the Illinois attorney general and the state’s attorneys of Cook, DuPage and Will counties.