Toward

Exxon Mobil launched a new organization structure built on aconcept of eleven separate global businesses designed to allow thecompany to compete more effectively in a changing worldwide energyindustry. Lee Raymond, CEO, said by mid-December the company willannounce a revised forecast of merger benefits that will likelyexceed the $2.8 billion annual level announced last year.

Taking a giant step toward successfully completing a 10-monthquest, Sempra Energy announced last week that the Nova ScotiaUtility and Review Board (URB) has said it will recommend SempraAtlantic Gas as the province’s first-ever gas distributor. Theprovincial government, which has the final say in the matter, saidit would issue a decision in the next three weeks.

Taking a giant step toward successfully completing a 10-monthquest, Sempra Energy announced yesterday that the Nova ScotiaUtility and Review Board (URB) has said it will recommend SempraAtlantic Gas as the province’s first ever gas distributor. Theprovincial government, which has the final say in the matter, saidit would issue a decision in the next three weeks.

The electricity restructuring legislation that survived markupby the House Energy and Power Subcommittee late Wednesday is ashell of the bill that was sponsored by Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX),energy industry analysts say.

Dynegy’s takeover of Illinova took a big step toward completion as shareholders for each company last week voted in favor of the transaction. Illinova’s vote of approval was announced during a special meeting at company headquarters in Decatur, IL, while Dynegy’s was held during a special shareholder meeting in Houston.

Dynegy’s takeover of Illinova took a big step toward completionas shareholders for each company voted in favor of the transactionyesterday. Illinova’s vote of approval was announced during aspecial meeting at company headquarters in Decatur, IL, whileDynegy’s was held during a special shareholder meeting in Houston.

In response to a recent court ruling, the Michigan PublicService Commission (PSC) issued a decision this week affirming itsauthority to carry out its 1998 electricity restructuring orders ona voluntary basis with participating utilities.

As possibly the first step toward the formation of a multi-statewestern U.S. electricity transmission grid operator, the CaliforniaIndependent System Operator’s governing board has authorized theISO management to discuss with Nevada regulatory staff a deal underwhich the California nonprofit grid operator would expand itsoperations to handle Nevada. Public Utilities Commission staff inNevada raised the issue last month as an option for the state as itanticipates a new law that will open Nevada power markets nextspring.

Exxon and Mobil took an important step toward completing their merger last week as shareholders for both companies approved the combination. But many industry observers viewed the votes as foregone conclusions. One source called them “glorified rubber stamps.” The real test will come during the regulatory process when the transaction undergoes strict Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and European Commission (EC) scrutiny.