These

KN Energy has discovered there is more than just cheddar cheeseproduction going on in Wisconsin these days. Potential customersfrom “all segments of the industry” showed interest in its proposedHorizon Pipeline project and have signed preliminary agreements for800 MMcf/d of firm capacity, the company said yesterday.

Columbia Energy Group barely overcame warmer than normaltemperatures, weak gas prices and higher marketing costs during thefirst quarter to post a 2% increase in earnings. The companyreported first quarter 1999 earnings of $150.4 million, or $1.81per share, up $2.9 million, or four cents per share, from $147.5million or $1.77 per share in the 1998 first quarter. Strongperformances by its regulated transmission, storage anddistribution operations, as well as its propane, power generationand LNG activities were offset by continued difficulties inmarketing and exploration and production.

The Millennium Pipeline Project and Southern Energy New York,the company that manages Southern Energy’s New York assets, jointlyannounced Wednesday a plan to build an extension from the proposedMillennium Pipeline to the Bowline Power Plant in Rockland County,NY. The interconnect will be counted as an addition to Millenniumwhich still awaits FERC approval.

Where there’s new power generation these days, there usually isnatural gas. And Florida will add almost 11,000 MW of power overthe next eight years, according to a recent report by the state’sutilities. Power demand is soaring in the state, particularly inthe southwestern portion, where currently there are no gaspipelines. That’s going to change soon, however.