Significant

CMS Energy’s Chairman William T. McCormick Jr. cited “asignificant lack of adequate transmission capacity,” and noincentives to build more, as threats to the reliability of thenation’s power delivery system in a deregulated environment.

CMS Energy’s Chairman William T. McCormick Jr. cited “asignificant lack of adequate transmission capacity,” and noincentives to build more, as threats to the reliability of thenation’s power delivery system in a deregulated environment.

Acknowledging its significant improvement in company performanceand shareholder value in the past year, Equitable Resourcespromoted Murry S. Gerber to chairman of the board of directors lastweek. Gerber has served as president and CEO since joiningEquitable in 1998.

Acknowledging its significant improvement in company performanceand shareholder value in the past year, Equitable Resources haspromoted Murry S. Gerber to chairman of the board of directors.Gerber has served as president and CEO since joining Equitable in1998.

With natural gas and power shortages looming, Western HubProperties won significant victory from California regulators, whoover-rode both internal opposition and vociferous local oppositionfrom nearby property owners to give conditional approval to aproposed $80 million underground natural gas storage field inNorthern California.

Citing significant demand, Florida Gas Transmission issued anOverage Alert Day notice Tuesday for its market area. The noticehad a 10% tolerance for negative daily imbalances, but FGTsaid itmay reduce the percentage if conditions do not improve. Thepipeline, which previously re-evaluated system operations eachmorning before announcing whether an OAD would be extended, nowsays the notices will remain in effect “until further notice.”

kRoad Ventures LP made a significant investment in HoustonStreetExchange Inc. to finance the online energy trading system’s pondcrossing to Europe. New York City-based kRoad is a global venturecapital fund focused on the infrastructure sector (energy,utilities, water and waste management). kRoad brings tradingliquidity, sector experience and international business networksunique to its limited partners: Vivendi (Europe), Softbank (Asia)and Sithe (North America). kRoad’s investment is the cornerstone ofHoustonStreet’s international initiatives. kRoad, Vivendi andHoustonStreet agreed to structure a strategic partnership toestablish HoustonStreet Europe.

Citing “significant” market area demand, Florida GasTransmission issued an Overage Alert Day notice, with a 6%tolerance for daily negative imbalances, Wednesday for its segmenteast of Station 12 in north-central Florida. The pipeline willreevaluate conditions this morning before deciding whether toextend the notice.

Scorching summer heat, high oil prices and a weak hydropowersupply should lead to a significant increase in gas demand thisyear, according to a report issued last week by Friedman, Billings,Ramsey & Co., Inc. (FBR), a Virginia-based financialinstitution. Prices will probably increase throughout the summer,the firm predicted.