Still

Southern Co., the largest electric generator in the country,still plans to hire 1,000 more people before the end of the year,the company said yesterday. Many of the job openings are in theunregulated sector. So far in 1999, the company has filled 2,000vacant or new positions.

Williams share prices dipped nearly 5% to $40.88/share yesterdayfollowing an announcement that the company expects third quarterearnings per share to be “substantially below” current Wall Streetestimates of 20 cents/share. The company said a change inaccounting standards and cooler than normal temperatures inSouthern California, its major power sales area, were to blame. Theannouncement was made partly in preparation for WilliamsCommunications’ initial public offering next month.

The Kansas City Board of Trade (KCBT) had an estimated volumefor the first time this month yesterday, but the Board’s managementis not concerned about the overall lack of trading. The KCBT hasrecognized the problem and is in discussions with its customers onhow it can bring its trading floor more to life, a spokespersonsaid, but others openly wonder if there will be a gas pit at theKCBT much longer.

The woes of Philadelphia’s main gas utility, Philadelphia GasWorks (PGW), have grown to embarrassing levels as computer systemproblems, debt, and customer unhappiness continue to dominate thescene. The situation came to a head last week, as the hierarchy ofPGW testified before the Philadelphia Gas Commission during publichearings of the utility’s budget process.

Cross Timbers Oil Co. of Fort Worth, TX, continues to grow itspresence in the Arkoma Basin with an acquisition from Houston-basedOcean Energy Inc. Ocean Energy agreed to sell its working interestin certain properties in the Arkoma Basin in Arkansas and Oklahomato Cross Timbers for about $235.3 million, which will be used toreduce debt. The transaction, which is subject to customary closingconditions, is scheduled to close by mid-September.

In the wake of last year’s oil bust, energy industry lenders arestill keeping a tighter grip on their money. However indicationsare some banks and investors are starting again to look for placesto put capital in the energy patch.

In the wake of last year’s oil bust, energy industry lenders arestill keeping a tighter grip on their money. However indicationsare banks and others are looking for places to put capital in theenergy patch.

The majority of cash points were down a few cents Thursday butstill sticking around in the vicinity of index levels. Despite somenegative influences, the California market even managed to maintainat least a nickel premium to index. Even with a huge swath of rainhaving a cooling effect on the Midwest and Northeast market areas,heat remained the big reason for only a modestly softeraftermarket. A screen drop of almost 9 cents had little impact oncash.

The Meridian Resource Corp. said flames still are shooting 150feet in the air from its Thibodaux No. 2 well near Amelia, LA, sixdays after the well was struck by lightening. The well wasscheduled to begin production in July with about 18 MMcf/d of gasand 1,800 b/d of condensate.