Vote

On a 3-2 split vote, California regulators last week dismissed aproposal for allowing gas distribution competition in anindustrialized part of the East San Francisco Bay. The majority,led by the current president of the California Public UtilitiesCommission, rejected an alternative proposal by two members of thefive-member CPUC.

Southern Union has completed its merger with PennsylvaniaEnterprises. “The prompt completion of this merger is a vote ofconfidence by our regulators and shareholders, as well as thefinancial community,” said Southern Union President Peter H.Kelley. PEI shareholders will receive 1.59 shares of Southern Unioncommon stock and $3 in cash for each share of PEI common stock.Southern Union also announced a stock repurchase program not toexceed $40 million. It is issuing 17 million shares of common stockand is paying $32 million in cash in connection with thistransaction. In addition, on Oct. 5 Southern Union announced amerger agreement with Fall River Gas, a gas distributor serving48,000 customers in southeastern Massachusetts. The transaction,valued at $75 million.

California regulators last week on a 3-2 split vote dismissed aproposal for allowing natural gas distribution competition in anindustrialized part of the East San Francisco Bay. The majority,led by the current president of the California Public UtilitiesCommission, rejected an alternative proposal by two members of thefive-member CPUC.

Pennsylvania’s Senate convincingly voiced its support for SB601, a gas deregulation bill for residential and small commercial customers, with a 47-3 vote of approval early last week. The bill is now in the hands of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives Consumer Affairs committee. If the bill is signed into law, each of Pennsylvania’s LDCs would be required to submit a restructuring plan by Nov. 1.

Legislation prescribing voluntary unbundling of Colorado’s gasdistribution industry has now gone to a state House appropriationscommittee. The sponsor of SB 153, Sen. David T. Owen, said heexpects it to pass with little or no trouble. Unlike legislationthat unbundled Georgia’s gas industry, the Colorado legislationdoes not delve into specifics of unbundling but rather leaves themup to the state Public Utility Commission (PUC).

Legislation prescribing voluntary unbundling of Colorado’s gasdistribution industry has now gone to a state House appropriationscommittee. The sponsor of SB 153, Sen. David T. Owen, said heexpects it to pass with little or no trouble. Unlike legislationthat unbundled Georgia’s gas industry, the Colorado legislationdoes not delve into specifics of unbundling but rather leaves themup to the state Public Utility Commission (PUC).

The Georgia Senate approved House Bill 822 by a vote of 52-0Wednesday, paving the way for a one time, statewide customerassignment process to occur before the next heating season. Havingalready passed the House of Representatives unanimously, theamendment only needs Gov. Roy Barnes’ signature before it becomeslaw.

The Georgia Senate approved House Bill 822 by a vote of 52-0last week, paving the way for a one time, statewide customerassignment process to occur before the next heating season. Havingalready passed the House of Representatives unanimously, theamendment only needs Gov. Roy Barnes’ signature before it becomeslaw.

Devon Energy Corp. said it signed agreements that fix the priceit will receive for 55,000 MMBtu/d of its 1999 production at$2.01/MMBtu. In addition, Devon currently has agreements covering8,000 MMBtu/d of its Canadian production at an average price ofC$2.32/MMBtu.