Willing

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) re-emphasized yesterdaythat it would be willing to arrange its 1.2 million customers’ paymentoptions to accommodate for the above normal electricity prices fromthe California Power Exchange. SDG&E announced it would not shutanybody’s power off for failure to pay through the remainder of thesummer through October. The utility also announced that it would notreport any of its customers to credit agencies during this period oradd late charges. Customers are encouraged to contact SDG&E to setup a flexible payment plan. Customers can call 1-800-411-SDGE or visitthe website, www.sdge.com

The natural gas is waiting, the communities are willing and theauthorities are prepared to co-operate any time producers andpipelines want to revive development in the Canadian north, theindustry is being told.

The natural gas is waiting, the communities are willing and theauthorities are prepared to co-operate any time producers andpipelines want to revive development in the Canadian north, theindustry is being told.

Privately-held Hunt Oil, based in Dallas, announced yesterday itis buying Calgary-based Newport Petroleum Corp. for C$5.50/share incash or about C$760 million, excluding C$271 in debt assumption.The offer represents a 10% premium over Newport’s closing shareprice of C$5 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on May 12. It hasunanimous support of Newport’s board and senior officers.

Williams Energy’s Kern River Gas Transmission announced an openseason last week to determine if customers on the system arewilling to relinquish enough capacity to meet the demand ofcompanies wishing to serve the Salt Lake City market. The openseason will run through March 3 and results will be announcedsometime in late March, a Williams spokesperson said.

Duke Energy Field Services (DEFS) showed last week that it wasnot willing to sit tight and wait for its midstream venture withPhillips’ GPM to begin, as it announced plans to acquire gatheringand processing assets in central Oklahoma from Conoco Inc. andMitchell Energy & Development Corp. The transaction is expectedto close March 31 after regulatory approvals are received. Nofinancial information was disclosed.

Transcontinental Gas Pipeline says it’s willing to price itsproposed SouthCoast expansion in Georgia and Alabama at anincremental rate, which should melt away much of the opposition tothe project.

Transcontinental Gas Pipeline says it’s willing to price itsproposed SouthCoast expansion in Georgia and Alabama at anincremental rate, which should eliminate much of the opposition tothe project.

To hasten FERC approval of its Canada-to-Illinois project,Viking Voyageur Gas Transmission said it would be willing to beplaced at-risk for any capacity that is unsubscribed during thefirst 10 years of the pipeline’s operation.