Word

One of the most significant regulatory events at FERC in 1998went by practically unnoticed: the word “proposed” was put backinto the notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), said CommissionerCurt Hebert Jr. in reflecting on his first full year at the agency.Commissioner Linda K. Breathitt, who also just ended her initialyear, agreed “proposed” took on a “stronger meaning” in a specificNOPR last year, but she hardly found it to be precedent-setting.

At Massachusetts’ Eastern Enterprises, “consolidation” is theword of the day, and of the days to come. Fresh from itsacquisition of Essex County Gas, the Boston Gas parent Monday saidit will buy nearby Colonial Gas Co. at a 27% premium to Colonial’sFriday closing price.

Don’t worry. Be happy. Or at least don’t fret over electricpower reliability on New Year’s Eve 1999. The initial word is infrom the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), andthings don’t look as bad as some would have thought.