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The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last Wednesday released a new discussion draft of the electric transmission title of its broad-based energy bill, which would give FERC jurisdiction to site high-voltage transmission (345-kV or more) facilities when a state fails to act within one year from the filing of an application, imposes conditions that would “unreasonably interfere” with a project or denies an application.

Ray L. Hunt, currently chairman and CEO of Dallas-based Hunt Oil Co., has relinquished the chairman role but will retain his CEO title, the company announced. James B. Jennings, 63, the current president, was named the new chairman. Jennings has been president since 1999, and he is expected to continue to oversee development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a new line of business for Hunt, which has LNG operations in Peru and Yemen. Stephen C. Hurley, 54, was promoted to president, and he will assume day-to-day responsibilities for company operations, including exploration, production and marketing. Hurley joined Hunt in 2001 after Hunt acquired Chieftain International Inc., where he had been COO.

Marketer ECONnergy Energy lays claim to the title of fastest-growing retail natural gas marketer in National Fuel Gas (NFG) territory, moving into the number three slot among marketers in the western New York area after just three weeks of phone and door-to-door solicitations.

In a move creating an entity that will challenge CMS EnergyCorp. for the title of Michigan’s largest gas and electric utility,DTE Energy Co. announced the purchase of MCN Energy Group yesterdayin a cash and stock transaction valued at $2.6 billion. Thecombined company will be headquartered in Detroit and named DTEEnergy Co. The merger is expected to be one of the speediest amongutilities, closing in six to nine months.

Completing a deal announced last December, El Paso Energy Partners L.P. announced it has assumed control of El Paso Intrastate — Alabama Inc. (EPIA) for $26.4 million from its parent company, El Paso Energy Corp (see Daily GPI, Dec. 27).

In a move creating an entity that will challenge CMS Energy Corp. for the title of Michigan’s largest gas and electric utility, DTE Energy Co. announced the purchase of MCN Energy Group last week in a cash and stock transaction valued at $2.6 billion. The combined company will be headquartered in Detroit and named DTE Energy Co. The merger is expected to be one of the speediest among utilities, closing in six to nine months.