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=09 =09 [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Monday, February 4, 2002 Home - Email Prefe= rences - Account [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] SITE ME= NU [IMAGE] [IMAGE] News Power News Gas News Prices Stock = Market Snapshots Industry M & A Power Plants Nuclear Data = Power Marketing Data Company Profiles Investor Owned Utilities C= ooperatives Municipals State / Federal [IMAGE] [IMAGE] NEW = CONTENT! [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Include the following in your Energy Central = Direct: Electric Utility Restructuring Weekly Update Closely tracked elec= tric utility restructuring developments across the country. Energy Centra= l News Search Search for Electric Power or Gas news stories up to 30 days = old. [IMAGE] [IMAGE] SPONSORS [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] I= tron [IMAGE] KWI [IMAGE] Excelergy [IMAGE] Energy Solutions Plus, Inc= . [IMAGE] RER [IMAGE] LODESTAR CORPORATION [IMAGE] Silicon Energy [= IMAGE] The Structure Group [IMAGE] Allegro Development [IMAGE] [IMAG= E] TALK TO US [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Ideas Wanted! 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Call Mark Johnson at 3= 03-782-5510 [IMAGE] [IMAGE] AdvertisementRER ELECTRIC POWER NEW= S - TOP STORIES [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Energy Central's editors have se= lected these as the top stories of the day: California Utility Regulator= s Devise Bond Plan to Finance Electricity Payments By Carrie Peyton, The S= acramento Bee, Calif., Feb. 1 Enron Extraordinarily Lucrative But Wrong Fe= b 03, 2002 - United Press International Harrisburg, Pa.-Area Utility Claims= PPL Corp.'s Market Moves Cost It Millions By David DeKok, The Patriot-New= s, Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 1 Xcel Enters Merger Talks; Looks To Buy Back NRG = Feb. 3 (Power Finance & Risk) [IMAGE] [IMAGE] ELECTRIC POWER NEWS - = MOST REQUESTED [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] These stories have been most requ= ested by Energy Central members in the last two weeks. Court overturns a= pproval of AEP, Central SW merger By Julie Vorman, WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (= Reuters) Enron's Cutthroat Culture Is Deplored by Those It Served to Profi= t By Claudia Kolker, The Boston Globe, Jan. 27 FERC audit shows flaws = in Calif power grid operator By Chris Baltimore, WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (Re= uters) Arthur Andersen's CEO Points a Finger at Enron's Business Model = By Julie Mason, Houston Chronicle, Jan. 21 Report Offers Bright Outlook f= or California Power Authority By Rick Jurgens, Contra Costa Times, Waln= ut Creek, Calif., Jan. 19 [IMAGE] [IMAGE] GAS INDUSTRY NEWS - TOP STO= RIES [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Energy Central's editors have selected thes= e as the top stories of the day: Indiana Gas Utilities Get Settlement Re= funds By Chris O'Malley, The Indianapolis Star, Feb. 1 Natural Gas Prices = Expected to Remain Volatile for Colorado Consumers By Steve Raabe, The Den= ver Post, Feb. 1 Study pans idea of state equity in Alaska gasline ANCHORA= GE, Alaska, Feb 2 (Reuters) [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] KWI [IMAGE] = [IMAGE] IN THIS ISSUE [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Daily Edition for = paul.d.thomas@enron.com [IMAGE] Electric Power News Restructuring Tod= ay Utility Spotlight RER's eMetrix Load Forecast: CAL ISO Electric Powe= r News - Top Stories Electric Power News - Most Requested Gas Industry Ne= ws - Top Stories Selected Content Not In This Issue Utility Sto= ck Price - Top Gainers - Each Tuesday [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] EL= ECTRIC POWER NEWS [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Selected 1= 21 of 121 Articles Today! THESE ARTICLES BROUGHT TO YOU BY Lesson= s learned from European deregulation efforts have made it across the pond = and back as energy companies position themselves to be global leaders. THE= STRUCTURE GROUP provides pan-European market participants with business a= nd technology solutions to support core business strategies. Market readin= ess, energy trading capabilities, integration and implementation issues, t= he diverse European market landscape. Our business solutions position ener= gy companies to leverage deregulation opportunities in Europe and North Am= erica. For more information about our products and services, call us at +4= 4 (0) 1372.817714 or visit http://www.thestructuregroup.com . Top St= ories California Utility Regulators Devise Bond Plan to Finance Electri= city Payments By Carrie Peyton, The Sacramento Bee, Calif., Feb. 1 After = months of talks with the governor and state treasurer, utility regulators h= ave crafted a plan they believe will allow the state to issue up to $12.5 b= illion in bonds to repay the state for buying electricity. [IMAGE] Xcel = Enters Merger Talks; Looks To Buy Back NRG Feb. 3 (Power Finance & Risk) = Xcel Energy, one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S., is courting= FirstEnergy, TXU and Entergy as potential merger partners and at the same = time is looking to repurchase the remaining 20% stake of its unregulated IP= P affiliate, NRG Energy, which it partially spun off in May 2000. Special O= ffer from this Publisher! [IMAGE] Enron Extraordinarily Lucrative But W= rong Feb 03, 2002 - United Press International On the eve of his appearan= ce before a congressional committee Monday, former Enron Corp. Chairman and= CEO Kenneth Lay and many of his staff of top executives were blamed by inv= estigators for reporting $1 billion in profits that did not exist, neverthe= less often enjoying immense personal gain. [IMAGE] Harrisburg, Pa.-Area = Utility Claims PPL Corp.'s Market Moves Cost It Millions By David DeKok, = The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 1 FirstEnergy Corp. says its three = GPU Energy subsidiaries in Pennsylvania and New Jersey incurred costs and d= amages "well into the millions of dollars" because of alleged manipulation = by PPL Corp. of the regional installed-capacity market in the first quarter= of 2001. Energy Security Bush officials say high alert may be ne= eded for years with terrorists possibly lurking in U.S. By H. JOSEF HEBER= T Associated Press Writer, WASHINGTON, Feb 01, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COM= TEX) -- Despite U.S. successes in Afghanistan, the Bush administration is c= autioning that terrorists may be operating in the United States, requiring = the nation to stay on high alert for perhaps years. California Crisis = Federal Regulators to Focus on Enron's Role in California's Energy Cris= is By Patty Reinert, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 1 Federal energy regulators = Thursday launched an investigation into whether Houston's embattled Enron C= orp. helped prolong last year's electricity crisis in California by unfairl= y manipulating wholesale power prices. A Plan, But No Customers Feb= 01, 2002 - Bond Buyer While California's new power authority trumpets its = plan to promote renewable energy and boost electricity reserves, details of= how billions of dollars in unspecified projects will be financed remain la= rgely unknown. FERC drops Calif group's case against BPA, BC Hydro = WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Th= ursday dismissed a complaint by a California citizen group that claimed Bon= neville Power Administration and three other firms withheld badly-needed el= ectricity during the state's power crisis. Calif. governor recounts t= alks with Lay LOS ANGELES, Feb 02, 2002 (United Press International via C= OMTEX) -- Gov. Gray Davis confirmed that he met with Enron Chairman Kennet= h Lay during the height of last winter's California electricity crisis, at = the urgings of two White House administrations, and described the consultat= ions as unproductive. Davis calls for Enron probe; Boxer calls Enron = 'robber baron' Feb 01 - Associated Press California Gov. Gray Davis and S= en. Barbara Boxer are asking federal energy regulators to investigate possi= ble price manipulation by Enron during the state's energy crisis. Bot= tom Lines: Customer Service on the Titanic Feb. 3 (California Energy Mark= ets) The California energy crisis of 2000/01 has taken its toll on the elec= tric utility business in many ways--financially, legally and by nearly elim= inating customer esteem for the state's utilities, electric service provide= rs and regulators. Special Offer from this Publisher! [IMAGE] ADVERTIS= EMENT ENERGIZE YOUR CAREER - The Energy Central Job Center has a new loo= k, new features, premier employers and is updated daily! Visit the energy = industry's largest on-line job center today: http://www.energycentral.com= /sections/jobs National Energy Policy Two Proposals in Memo fr= om Enron's Lay Became Part of Cheney's Energy Plan By Jim Landers, The Da= llas Morning News, Feb. 1 The Bush administration's national energy plan in= cluded two Enron-endorsed provisions that upset some congressional Republic= ans and Western governors for infringing on state's rights. Court tel= ls Cheney to explain task force secrecy WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - A f= ederal judge has ordered Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force to = explain the constitutional argument behind its refusal to release details o= f its meetings, a group suing for the records said on Friday. Competit= ion & Deregulation TXU to Switch Some Texas Electricity Customers to Re= liant Energy By Dan Piller, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas, Feb. 1 TXU's= electricity customers who are behind on their bills will find their servic= e switched involuntarily to Houston-based Reliant Energy starting in March = as part of the new "provider of last resort" program under the state's dere= gulation law. Dominion Virginia Power Redesigns Bills to Reflect Supp= ly Choice By Carolyn Shapiro, Daily Press, Newport News, Va., Feb. 2 Domi= nion Virginia Power customers will get redesigned electricity bills this mo= nth that show new information to help them prepare to shop for a competing = supplier. Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures Power Merger Comple= ted in Buffalo, N.Y., Area By David Robinson, The Buffalo News, N.Y., Feb= . 1 Niagara Mohawk turned over the keys to its New York utility business to= British transmission giant National Grid Group Thursday, wrapping up an $8= .9 billion merger that creates the eighth largest electric utility in the c= ountry. Enron May Sell Pittsburgh-Based Firm Limbach Facility Service= s to Raise Money By Dan Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Feb. 2 Enro= n Corp., the Houston energy trader now engulfed in the largest bankruptcy c= ase in U.S. history, has ties to a 101-year-old Pittsburgh mechanical contr= acting firm. Duke Energy Corp. to Sell Engineering Unit The Charlot= te Observer, N.C., Feb. 1 Duke Energy Corp. said Thursday it will sell its = nuclear plant engineering division to a Virginia-based nuclear power compan= y, as it focuses on wholesale power production, natural gas and energy trad= ing. Legislation/Regulation Justice Department Tells White House N= ot to Destroy Enron-Related Records By Ron Hutcheson, Knight Ridder Washi= ngton Bureau, Feb. 2 The Justice Department on Friday directed the White Ho= use not to destroy any records related to Enron's contacts with government = officials because they could be needed in a criminal investigation. C= ongress to Grill Enron Witnesses Feb 03, 2002 - Associated Press Star wit= ness and presidential friend Kenneth Lay. Lawmakers Aim to Lift Enron= 's 'Shroud of Secrecy' at Lay Hearings By Julie Mason, Houston Chronicle,= Feb. 1 Lawmakers signaled Thursday that their questioning of former Enron = Corp. Chairman Ken Lay on Capitol Hill next week is likely to be confrontat= ional when he delivers his first public explanation of the company's collap= se. Congressmen Cry Foul in Enron's Self-Investigation By Julie Mas= on, Houston Chronicle , Feb. 2 Lawmakers on Friday sought to discredit a pe= nding internal investigation from Enron Corp., saying the effort is already= compromised by a lack of independent oversight. FACTBOX-Congress hea= rings schedule on Enron/Andersen WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) The followin= g are the hearings which the U.S. Congress has firmly scheduled on the coll= apse of Enron Corp., its auditor Andersen, and related regulatory issues ov= er the coming weeks. Latest items added are marked *. Lawmaker Wants = Utah to Debate Means of Selecting Utility Regulators By Steven Oberbeck, = The Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 31 Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley City, wants the= Legislature to debate whether Utah's top utility regulators should be elec= ted rather than appointed by the governor. Enron scandal may affect l= egislation By Chris Nietupski, MADISON, Wis., Feb 01, 2002 (Badger Herald= , U-WIRE via COMTEX) -- Policy-making in Wisconsin and across the country = could feel the effects of the Enron scandal, state officials say. Sen= ate Energy Committee Focuses on Enron Impact on Prices Feb. 1 (Texas Elec= tric Market Reporter) On January 29, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy an= d Natural Resources took testimony from witnesses on the impact of the Enro= n bankruptcy on energy markets. Special Offer from this Publisher! Ra= tes Nevada Regulator May Increase Length of Time for Utility Payments = By John G. Edwards, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Feb. 1 Nevada's top utility = regulator said Thursday that state law may permit Nevada Power Co. to recov= er a $922 million rate increase over six years instead of three. Stat= e: Nstar owes $22.5M Feb 02 - Boston Herald Accusing Nstar of negligence,= state regulators are demanding the power company pay its customers $22.5 m= illion for suffering through last summer's power outages. General = Attorney: Enron Officer Ordered Whistleblower's Computer Seized By Miles = Moffeit, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas, Feb. 1 Shortly after Enron Corp. = Vice President Sherron Watkins reported a pattern of accounting irregularit= ies to company chief Kenneth Lay last year, management seized her computer,= Watkins' attorney said. Enron Executives' Image Slips in New Poll = By Patty Reinert, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 2 As the Enron scandal unfolds, a= majority of Americans believe executives acted illegally as the Houston en= ergy trader spiraled toward bankruptcy last fall, according to a poll relea= sed Friday. `Enron' Becomes a Verb By Marja Mills, Chicago Tribune,= Feb 1 To Enron's enormous legal and financial nightmares, add this indigni= ty: The bankrupt behemoth's name has morphed into slang for slippery accoun= ting, leaving employees in the lurch and other unsavory conduct. Enro= n execs using company jets to attend bankruptcy hearings By KRISTEN HAYS = Associated Press Writer-, HOUSTON, Jan 31, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX)= -- Since Enron Corp. filed the largest U.S. bankruptcy in history last yea= r, the company has used its two jets for eight round-trip flights to New Yo= rk where the case was filed, a spokesman said Thursday. Enron Develop= ments at a Glance Feb 01 - Associated Press Developments related to the E= nron collapse and investigation: Computer Sleuths Confident about Abi= lity to Find Deleted Enron Data By Cara Anna, Austin American-Statesman, = Texas, Jan. 31 The head of the company hired to retrieve the electronic rec= ords destroyed by Arthur Andersen LLP concerning Enron Corp. was guarded bu= t confident Wednesday as he talked about the task already under way in Hous= ton, protected by armed guards. Enron Vacates Most of Its California = Offices By Kate Berry, The Orange County Register, Calif., Feb. 1 Enron C= orp., the bankrupt energy-trading company that influenced the design of Cal= ifornia's disastrous experiment with electricity deregulation, has vacated = nearly all its offices in the state, including an Orange County headquarter= s in Costa Mesa. More Virginians Falling Behind on Electricity Paymen= ts By Lois Caliri, The Roanoke Times, Va., Jan. 31 The Salvation Army has= paid some needy Roanokers' bills. Officials in Indiana's LaPorte Cou= nty, Michigan City Protest NIPSCO Cutbacks By Keith Benman, South Bend Tr= ibune, Ind., Jan. 31 LaPorte County commissioners and Michigan City Mayor S= heila Brillson have asked state officials to block a plan by the Northern I= ndiana Public Service Co. to close five service hubs. Chattanooga, Te= nn., Steel-Plant Operator Has Unique Agreement with Enron By Mike Pare, C= hattanooga Times/Free Press, Feb. 1 Huntco Inc., which operates a steel pro= cessing plant at Chattanooga's riverport, has what a steel industry spokesm= an calls unique financial agreements with Enron. TVA Cuts Back on Off= ice Space in Downtown Chattanooga, Tenn. By Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Ti= mes/Free Press, Feb. 2 Chattanooga's biggest employer is scaling back its p= resence downtown. Enron Collapse Affects Shares Omaha, Neb., Retirees= By Judith Graham, Chicago Tribune, Feb. 1 The small sign welcoming the w= hite-haired men and women to lunch last Friday was a minor act of rebellion= . "Northern Natural Gas retirees luncheon," the sheet read. A month ago, it= would have carried the name of Enron. Trading/Marketing Enron's p= ower trading volumes fell in Q4-FERC data WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) Enr= on Corp.'s electricity trading volumes in the fourth quarter of 2001 fell b= y about 26 percent from the previous quarter as the company slipped into ba= nkruptcy, according to data filed with federal regulators on Thursday. = Barclays hires 2 ex-Enron executives to run energy trading desk LONDON,= Feb 01, 2002 (AFX-Europe via COMTEX) -- Barclays Bank PLC unit Barclays C= apital said it hired two former executives from Enron Europe to run a newly= created energy trading team, the Wall Street Journal reported. New Te= chnologies/Markets Danbury, Conn.-Based Fuel Cell Firm to Make Schedule= d Deliveries for Year By David A. Smith, Waterbury Republican-American, C= onn., Feb. 2 Last month's explosion at FuelCell Energy Inc.'s Torrington ma= nufacturing plant will delay shipments of its fuel cells by at least a mont= h, but the company said it still expects to make its deliveries planned for= this year. Power Pricing/Supply FERC Says Soft Market, not Its Pr= ice Caps, Set NW Energy Prices Feb. 3 (Clearing Up) A spot market affecte= d by declining demand for power and a return to more normal supply levels s= et the prices for Northwest energy from June through November 2001, not the= $92/MWh price cap FERC set last June. Special Offer from this Publisher! = Monday Power in Central Posts Modest Gain on Cold Weather Feb. 1 (B= tu's Daily Power Report) Power prices throughout the Central region were se= en slightly up today on what was most likely an affect of cooler weather an= d typical ahead of the weekend hype. Special Offer from this Publisher! = Cold Weather Flattens Loads and Prices Feb. 1 (Special to Western Pri= ce Survey Contacts) A sharp drop in the temperature and associated snow ear= ly in the week did not cause a big increase in peak period prices at Wester= n hubs. Special Offer from this Publisher! SW Left Out in the Cold = Jan. 31 (Energy Market Report) Peak power prices in the Western U.S. rose = for the typically-discounted Friday/Saturday package on continued strong we= ather-related demand and new-month buying. Special Offer from this Publishe= r! Transmission & Reliability Entergy, Arkansas Negotiate Settlem= ent of Ice-Storm Costs By David Mercer, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little= Rock, Jan. 30 Entergy Arkansas Inc. and the state Public Service Commissio= n are negotiating a potential settlement of the utility's bid to recover mo= ney it spent to restore power to hundreds of thousands of customers after a= pair of destructive ice storms in December 2000. FERC to hold hearin= g on power-line charges Jan 31 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The Federal E= nergy Regulatory Commission ordered a hearing to decide how much the owners= of electricity transmission systems in the Midwest can charge for making p= ower-line and other improvements. N.Y.-N.E. power merger called not b= ig enough Feb 02 - Providence Journal A proposed merger of wholesale elec= tricity markets in New York and New England doesn't go far enough to reduce= the high cost of sharing power with mid-Atlantic states, federal regulator= s said yesterday. FERC Gets MISO Ready for Prime Time Feb. 1 (Energ= y Insights) Following up on orders that approved the Midwest Independent Sy= stem Operator ("MISO") as a fully functional Regional Transmission Organiza= tion ("RTO"), the FERC acted on various MISO filings to prepare for MISO's = fully operational status as of today. Special Offer from this Publisher! = Power Projects Wisconsin Energy seeks to build five power plants = SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 1 (Reuters) - Wisconsin Energy Corp. on Friday said it = had filed a $3 billion plan with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin= to build five power plants that will provide a total of 2,800 megawatts of= new generation capacity for the state. Arizona Commission Rejects Pl= an for $1 Billion Power Plant near Eloy By Mitch Tobin, The Arizona Daily= Star, Tucson, Jan. 31 A $1 billion power plant proposed six miles from the= new Ironwood Forest National Monument was unanimously rejected by the Ariz= ona Corporation Commission Wednesday. New Berlin, Wis., Considers Pow= er Plant Permit 'Expired' By Corissa Jansen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, = Feb. 1 The city has told a company that its permit to build a $150 million = power plant has expired, prompting opponents to say they were doing a "vict= ory dance" over the news. Kentucky Legislative Votes May Sway Plan fo= r Coal-Fired Plant By Bill Bartleman, The Paducah Sun, Ky., Jan. 31 How t= he Kentucky General Assembly acts on two bills will determine if EnviroPowe= r of Lexington advances on a plan to build a $900 million coal-fired genera= ting plant near Calvert City. York County, S.C., Chamber Members Join= in Calpine Dispute By Sula Pettibon, The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C., Jan. 3= 1 People are lining up on both sides of a gas-fired electric generator issu= e, and on Wednesday chamber members joined the dispute. Legal PG?s= ends bankruptcy details to U.S. judge SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 1 (Reuters) PG?C= orp.'s Pacific Gas & Electric unit on Friday said it filed 900 pages of mos= tly technical information about taxes, business contracts and other details= requested by the judge in the company's bankruptcy case. Bank of Ame= rica Subsidiary Sued over Advice It Gave on Enron Bonds By Rick Rothacker= , The Charlotte Observer, N.C., Feb. 2 A Bank of America Corp. subsidiary i= s among three companies being sued by an institutional investor who says th= ey promoted Enron Corp. bonds even when they knew the energy trader was in = financial trouble. Lawyers for Former Enron Workers File Motions, See= king to Clear Way for Suits By Ron Nissimov, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 1 La= wyers for two groups of former Enron employees have filed three motions in = New York bankruptcy court they say will protect the interests of their clie= nts. Wisconsin Electric Power Wins Procedural Victory in Punitive Dam= ages Decision By Lee Bergquist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 1 Wiscon= sin Electric Power Co. won a procedural victory on Thursday when the State = Supreme Court decided not to review an appeals court decision that threw ou= t a landmark $100 million punitive damages award against the company. = Renewables Public Service Firm Wants to Put 180 Windmills on New Mexico= Plains By Rosalie Rayburn, Albuquerque Journal, N.M., Feb. 2 Public Serv= ice Company of New Mexico is in "serious pursuit" of a wind ranch in easter= n New Mexico that will use 180 turbines to generate up to 200 megawatts of = electricity -- enough for 70,000 homes. Siemens Solar Energized by Al= liance with Berkeley, Calif.-Based PowerLight By Evan Pondel, Daily News,= Los Angeles, Jan. 31 Siemens Solar and Berkeley-based PowerLight will come= together today to turn Southern California's copious sun into a money-savi= ng power generator for Los Angeles consumers. NWRFC raises Lower Colu= mbia River runoff forecast SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31 (Reuters) The Northwest= River Forecast Center (NWRFC) on Thursday significantly raised its long-te= rm forecast for runoff at some of the region's huge dams along the Lower Co= lumbia River. Avista offers `Buck a Block' wind power Feb 01 - Spok= esman Review Avista Utilities will formally launch its wind energy program = Friday, but a few alternative energy enthusiasts have already signed up. = City briefing: Minister puffs house of straw Feb 01 - The Guardian Th= e world's largest and most efficient straw-fired power station was opened y= esterday by Brian Wilson, the energy minister, who announced pounds 7.3m of= further support for bio-fuel projects. U.K. Utility Puts 600 MW U.S.= Wind Biz On The Block Feb. 3 (Power Finance & Risk) U.K. utility Innogy = has put its U.S. wind farm business up for sale and hired J.P. Morgan to fi= nd a buyer. Special Offer from this Publisher! People Enron Choic= es Received Bush Posts By MARCY GORDON AP Business Writer, WASHINGTON, Fe= b 01, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- A few months after the White House got= a list of recommended candidates from former Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay, a= friend and backer of President Bush, two of them were appointed to a feder= al energy commission. Accounting Agency Chief Has Reputation for Inte= grity By Tom Walker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb. 2 People who = know him volunteer the same phrase in describing David Michael Walker, U.S.= comptroller general and head of the General Accounting Office: "straight a= rrow." Head of Enron's Internal Probe Walks Tightrope as Board Member= , Law Dean By Pete Slover, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 1 The man conduc= ting Enron Corp.'s internal investigation of its collapse -- Enron board me= mber and University of Texas Law School Dean William C. Powers Jr. -- is na= vigating a maze of potential conflicts of interest. Enron's Demise Tr= oubled Executive before His Death, Friends Say By Bruce Nichols, The Dall= as Morning News, Feb. 1 Cliff Baxter spent 10 years climbing to the top of = Enron Corp. before quitting as vice chairman last May, telling co-workers a= nd friends he was going to take his millions and enjoy life with his wife a= nd two children. Watchdog Groups Criticize Texas Attorney General Can= didate's Link to Enron By Max B. Baker, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas, = Feb. 1 The Republican candidate for state attorney general is drawing criti= cism from public watchdog groups for being employed at a law firm that earn= ed hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying for Enron. Enron Exec.'s= Credibility at Stake By DEB RIECHMANN Associated Press Writer, WASHINGTO= N, Feb 02, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- It's not just his company that is= weighted with debits. Harvard Corporation member in spotlight for En= ron board seat By Joseph P. Flood, CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan 31, 2002 (Harvar= d Crimson, U-WIRE via COMTEX) -- The ever-expanding investigations and gov= ernment probes into last fall's surprise collapse of energy giant Enron Cor= p. has highlighted the role played by one member of Harvard University's Co= rporation in the management of the company. Labor/Human Resources = California Agency Investigates Worker Safety at Power-Plant Construction Si= te By Erin Waldner, The Bakersfield Californian, Feb. 2 Cal/OSHA is inves= tigating employee safety at the La Paloma power plant construction site nea= r McKittrick, an agency spokesman has confirmed. Workers at Enron Win= d Power Facility in Tehachapi, Calif., Laid Off By Erin Waldner, The Bake= rsfield Californian, Feb. 1 A furlough at Enron Wind's Tehachapi facility w= ent into effect last month. Dominion Virginia Power Continues to Elim= inate Jobs By Michael Davis, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va., Feb. 1 Do= minion Virginia Power is cutting white-collar and supervisory jobs, possibl= y including several in Hampton Roads, as it continues to restructure its op= erations. Ex-Enron Employees Face Tough Times By LISA FALKENBERG As= sociated Press Writer, HOUSTON, Feb 01, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- With= his credit card in hand, laid-off Enron Corp. employee David Hunker went t= o the supermarket last month to buy all the Lean Cuisine meals he could stu= ff in his freezer. Ex-Enron Workers' Fund Receives $400,000 Jan 31,= 2002 - United Press International A fund created to aid former Enron emplo= yees received nearly $400,000 in donations in the past week, mostly from po= liticians and political groups returning Enron contributions, the Greater H= ouston Community Foundation said Thursday. FirstEnergy Corp. Cuts 340= Jobs in Berks County, Pa., after Merger By Don Spatz, Reading Eagle, Pa.= , Jan. 30 FirstEnergy Corp. said Tuesday that it is eliminating 340 Berks C= ounty jobs or 22 percent of its local work force in a cost-cutting move fol= lowing its $4.5 billion purchase of GPU Inc. in November. Fuel Dak= ota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Faces Big Challenges before Trains Roll = By Jeffrey Pieters, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn., Jan. 31 With four yea= rs pursuing regulatory approval finally at an end, what comes next for the = Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad? Environmental Study Will Hel= p Shape Future of the Tennessee River By Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times= /Free Press, Feb. 2 The Tennessee Valley Authority, which reshaped the Tenn= essee River with its dams and reservoirs in the past century, may shape the= river's future in this century through a new 2-year study being publicly l= aunched this month. Is Bush Planning Kyoto Clone for U.S.? Feb. 1 (= Electricity Daily) Rumors are flying in Washington that the Bush administra= tion will shortly propose a broad climate change action program as an alter= native to the Kyoto Protocol. Special Offer from this Publisher! Nucl= ear Callaway, Mo., Nuclear Plant Shut Briefly Due to Malfunction By J= osh Flory, Columbia Daily Tribune, Mo., Feb. 1 The Callaway Nuclear Plant h= as been shut down for repairs, and a federal inspection team has been sent = to investigate a malfunction at the reactor. Federal Panel Grants Hea= ring on Nuclear Fuel By Bruce Henderson, The Charlotte Observer, N.C., Fe= b. 1 A federal panel has granted a formal hearing on a claim that using sur= plus bomb material to fuel the Charlotte area's two nuclear power plants wo= uld be unsafe. Court Approves Nuclear-Waste Storage Site in New Londo= n, Conn., Area By Izaskun E. Larraneta, The Day, New London, Conn., Jan. = 31 A federal court judge approved an agreement Tuesday that allows Connecti= cut Yankee Atomic Power Co. to build a spent nuclear-fuel storage complex t= he size of a football field on residential land in Haddam Neck. NRC s= ays to look into pump problem at Mo. nuke NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) The N= uclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said late Thursday that it will look int= o circumstances surrounding the malfunction of an auxiliary feedwater pump = at the 1,125-megawatt (MW) Callaway nuclear power plant located near Fulton= , Missouri. U.S. nuclear plants said well protected from attack By = Chris Reese, NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) Despite new warnings of a possible a= ttack against U.S. nuclear facilities, industry officials said on Friday th= eir power plants are well protected and only minor security changes have be= en necessary since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. French = nuclear agency rates incident at EDF plant as level 2 PARIS, Feb 01, 2002= (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- The French Nuclear Safety Authority, ASN, = has rated an incident that occurred at Electricite de France's Flamanville = nuclear power plant as a Level 2 accident, the agency said Friday. Cl= aims on a nuclear future are dismissed Feb 01 - The Herald - Glasgow CLAI= MS by environmental campaigners that the door has been left open for a new = generation of nuclear power stations, subsidised through tax breaks and pro= moted by relaxed planning laws, were dismissed by government sources last n= ight. Financial Despite troubles, not all Covanta bonds are alike = By Chris Sanders, NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) Independent power producer Co= vanta Energy Corp.'s financial troubles are hurting more than $2.3 billion = of municipal debt linked to the company, but analysts said some of the bond= s are in much better shape than others. Fund, Money Managers Kept Buy= ing Enron Stock Despite Plummeting Share Price By Scott Nelson, The Bosto= n Globe, Feb. 2 A plummeting share price didn't stop mutual funds and money= managers from adding Enron Corp. stock to their portfolios in the months b= efore the Houston energy company filed the largest corporate bankruptcy in = US history, new analysis shows. Bush Plan Disputes Tennessee Valley A= uthority's Budget Approach By Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times/Free Press= , Jan. 31 When the Tennessee Valley Authority adopted a new budget last fal= l, directors of the federal utility bragged that they would boost power gen= eration, cut air pollution and improve electricity reliability while still = paying down the agency's debt this year. Tougher rules in the works f= or Enron-type deals By Deepa Babington, NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) Dogged = by pressure after the Enron debacle, accounting rule makers are rushing to = tighten standards for complex financing vehicles that went to the heart of = the energy trader's collapse. Bush touts pension reform without menti= oning Enron WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Without mentioning Enron Corp. = by name, President George W. Bush told Americans on Saturday he would refor= m pension rules to protect workers like those who lost their retirement sav= ings when the energy trader and Bush campaign contributor collapsed last ye= ar. Creditors Will Mull Enron Plan Feb 01 - Associated Press Some o= f Enron Corp.'s creditors say it's far too early to tell whether they can g= et more out of a smaller company focused on moving electricity and natural = gas or from an all-out liquidation. After Enron Controversy, Question= s Raised about Employment of Accountants By Robert Manor, Chicago Tribune= , Feb. 3 Although critics say it's a clear conflict of interest, accountant= s freely take jobs with clients they audit, a widespread and increasingly c= ontroversial practice highlighted by the collapse of Enron. NY Comptr= oller asks NYSE to stiffen accounting rules NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - = The New York State Comptroller on Thursday called on the New York Stock Exc= hange to stiffen its accounting rules for listed companies -- preventing au= ditors from also working as consultants for the same firm -- in order to re= store investor confidence in the wake of Enron Corp.'s collapse Financ= ial - Ratings RESEARCH ALERT-Deutsche Banc cuts Mirant to 'market perfo= rm' NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown on Friday said it= cut power trader and generator Mirant Corp. to "market perform" from "buy,= " based on the impact of its split credit rating and a lower near-term ener= gy market outlook. RESEARCH ALERT-Goldman ups Constellation Energy ra= ting NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) Goldman Sachs on Friday said it raised its= rating on Constellation Energy Group Inc. from to "market outperform" from= "market performer" after the new management of the Baltimore-based company= said it would increase its dividend by 100 percent and offered a comprehen= sive plan for integrating merchant energy operations. Financial - Resu= lts Dallas-Based Utility TXU Corp. Reports $76 Million Loss for Fourth = Quarter By Victor Godinez, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 1 TXU Corp. post= ed a $76 million fourth-quarter loss as the company sold some assets, compl= eted a restructuring to comply with Texas' new deregulation guidelines and = calculated its losses from the Enron Corp. bankruptcy. San Jose, Cali= f.-Based Power Company Posts Quarterly Earnings of $104 Million By Reed F= uji, The Record, Stockton, Calif., Feb. 1 Calpine Corp., the independent po= wer company that proposed building power plants in Stockton and Altamont Pa= ss, reported Thursday fourth-quarter earnings of $104 million and full-year= net income of $680 million. DQE reports Q4 loss as company takes $78= .3 mln charge PITTSBURGH, Jan 31 (Reuters) Water and electricity provider= DQE on Thursday reported a fourth-quarter net loss, as the company took a = $78.3 million restructuring charge on a change in its strategic direction. = NZ's UnitedNetworks on acquisition trail AUCKLAND, Feb 1 (Reuters) = - New Zealand electricity and gas utility UnitedNetworks Ltd said on Friday= it had potential to match last year's strong performance and was in good s= hape to acquire more assets. Idacorp fourth-quarter earnings down 16 = percent BOISE, Idaho, Feb 1 (Reuters) Utilities holding company Idacorp I= nc. said on Friday its fourth-quarter earnings fell 16 percent, pulled lowe= r by a drop in revenues from its Idaho Power electric utility due to warmer= than usual winter weather. CH Energy earnings rise, helped by tax cr= edits POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Feb 1 (Reuters) Utility holding company CH Ener= gy Group Inc. on Friday said fourth-quarter earnings nearly doubled, helped= by investment tax credits that offset a sharp drop in sales. TransAl= ta profit slips, cost cuts deepen CALGARY, Alberta, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Fou= rth-quarter profit at TransAlta Corp., Canada's top investor-owned power ge= nerator, fell 11 percent due to slumping electricity prices, and the compan= y said on Friday. Warm Weather Cited in OGE Energy Corp.'s Loss in Fo= urth Quarter By Rick Robinson, The Daily Oklahoman, Jan. 30 OGE Energy Co= rp. cited warmer weather as it reported a fourth-quarter net loss Tuesday o= f $6.3 million, or 8 cents a share, compared with net income of $7.2 millio= n, or 9 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. Black Hills profit si= nks 78 percent NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) Black Hills Corp., an energy an= d broadband communications company, on Thursday reported a 78 percent drop = in its fourth-quarter earnings, and said lower gas and electricity prices a= s well as charges related to Enron Corp. hurt its results. Internation= al Philippine power privatisation lures foreign firms MANILA, Feb 3 (= Reuters) Power companies from Britain, Canada and the United States have sh= own interest in investing in the Philippines' National Power Corporation (N= apocor) due to be privatised later this year, the government said on Sunday= . Dahbol Power receives four initial bids for Enron stake BOMBAY, F= eb 01, 2002 (AFX-Asia via COMTEX) -- Indian lenders to the Dabhol Power Co= Ltd have chosen four initial bids for the 85 pct equity stake held by the = collapsed Enron Corp and its associates, PP Vora, chairman of the Industria= l Development Bank of India said. Russian companies win tender to res= tore Iraqi power plant By Konstantin Machulski, AL KUWAIT, Jan 31, 2002 (= Itar-Tass via COMTEX) -- A consortium of Russian companies has won a tende= r to restore power plants in Iraq, the Iraqi newspaper Al-Thawrah says in i= ts Friday issue. UK Ofgem issues final proposals for National Grid sy= stem targets LONDON, Feb 01, 2002 (AFX-UK via COMTEX) -- Ofgem, the UK's= gas and electricity regulator, has issued final proposals to National Grid= Co for enhancing existing system operator incentives. Panel hears of= U.S. steps to 'design' energy markets TOKYO, Feb 01, 2002 (Kyodo via COM= TEX) -- A U.S. energy official told an industry ministry panel Friday of t= he importance of market design in forestalling crises in a liberalized ener= gy market, a ministry official said. Bankrupt US Energy Firm Silent o= n Steel Project in Mozambique MAPUTO, February 1, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX= ) -- The bankrupt American energy company Enron has still not contacted th= e Mozambican government about the future of the Maputo Iron and Steel Proje= ct (MISP), of which Enron was the sole shareholder. Italy govt sees e= xtra 15,000 MW in electricity capacity from power plant move ROME, Feb 01= , 2002 (AFX-Europe via COMTEX) -- A decree cleared today by the cabinet to= accelerate the construction of power plants is expected to boost the insta= lled production capacity by 15,000 megawatts, Industry Minister Antonio Mar= zano said without giving a timeframe. Fox Orders Postponement Of Elec= tricity Rate Increase MEXICO CITY, Feb 1, 2002 (El Economista/Corporate M= exico by Internet Securities, Inc. via COMTEX) -- Mexican President Vicent= e Fox ordered the Energy ministry to halt its plan to reduce the subsidy on= residential electricity prices, in order to reduce the impact on Mexicans'= expenses, reported Mexico City daily el Economista. Government discl= oses one more meeting; AFL-CIO focus on Lord Wakeham By ROBERT BARR Assoc= iated Press Writer, LONDON, Feb 01, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Pri= me Minister Tony Blair's government on Friday disclosed an eighth meeting b= etween ministers and executives of Enron Corp., while a major U.S. labor or= ganization said it had asked other companies to drop a British member of En= ron's board from their panels of directors. KEPCO to invite bids for = 30 pct of unit Powercom SEOUL, Feb 03, 2002 (AFX-Asia via COMTEX) -- Kor= ea Electric Power Corp said it will invite bids for 30 pct of the equity in= its subsidiary Powercom. Raise taxes on fossil fuels, urges leaked s= tudy Feb 02 - The Daily Telegraph HIGHER taxes on fossil fuels and a new = generation of nuclear power stations are likely to be needed in the next 20= years, says a leaked report commissioned by Tony Blair. More Losses = Likely at British Energy Feb 02, 2002 - The Guardian Unlimited British En= ergy, the nuclear power generator, shocked the market yesterday with a warn= ing that output from its loss-making UK plants will fall below expectations= next year. Prince Charles' charity says it received $1.12 M US from = Enron over 8 years ED JOHNSON, LONDON, Feb 02, 2002 (The Canadian Press v= ia COMTEX) -- Executives at Enron Corp. donated 800,000 pounds - the equiv= alent of $1.12 million US - to Prince Charles' charity The Prince's Trust a= nd also met with him at charity dinners, the organization and a palace offi= cial said Saturday. [IMAGE] Powered by Energy Central ? 2002 CyberT= ech, Inc. All rights reserved. More News [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Top = [IMAGE] RESTRUCTURING TODAY [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE= ] February 04, 2002 Calif PUC gives up right to fix prices Calif P= UC to reset competition's time of death Energy West expects big growth= in converging market Actually making money in market right now First= Viagra ads now this FERC finds Company A lost $310 million in soft ma= rket Avista gets clobbered as drought ends Davis wants 30% drop probed= Davis tries to link opponent with Enron Tauzin sets big Enron we= ek for Commerce Committee Powered By US Publishing ? 2002 US Publi= shing. All Rights Reserved. More Info [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Top [IMAGE]= UTILITY SPOTLIGHT [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] January = 29, 2002 Citing Distraction of Many Probes, Lay Forced to ResignAs Enron= Head Power Marketing -- Pacific Northwest?s ?Uniqueness? Seen As Test= for Competitive Power Future D.C. Current -- NRC Chief Says Terrorism= Threat Remains Uncertain for Nuke Plants D.C. Current -- DOE Opens Bi= ds to Add Oil to SPR Communications & PR -- Dynegy?s Marv Bradshaw Ans= wers Questions on Deregulation Benefits Communications & PR -- Newark,= NJ Communications & PR -- Barclays Capital Communications & PR -= - Washington Communications & PR -- Awards Natural Gas -- Land Ma= nagement?s Drilling Okay Seen Creating Environmental Battle Natural Ga= s -- Con Ed Report Fuels Opposition to Pipeline Natural Gas -- Anadark= o Cutting Spending to $2B. Down 50% Natural Gas -- EmCap, Michael Petr= oleum Execs in New Venture Nuclear -- LEU Imports Harming US Uranium I= ndustry?ITC; U. S. Duties Awaited Nuclear -- Maine Yankee Awarded $44M= in Settlement Around the Circuit -- Appeals Court Overturns SEC Okay = Of AEP $4B C&SW 2000Takeover Around the Circuit -- CPUC Sets Rate Proc= edure for SoCal Edison Around the Circuit -- CA Power Authority Pushin= g Green Energy Sources Who?s News Rates -- New Standard Offer Pri= ces in Maine To Provide $100M Annual Savings Rates -- Scottish Power E= xpected to Boost Gas Bills by 6% Rates -- Anaheim PU Offers Incentives= for Photovoltaic Contracts PG&E?s 4 Post-Bankruptcy Units Likely= Investment-Grade Rated?S? Financial Focus: OPPD Still Meeting Reliabl= e Service Goal Powered By Utility Spotlight ? 2002 Utility Spotlig= ht. All Rights Reserved. More Info [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Top [IMAGE] R= ER'S EMETRIX LOAD FORECAST: CAL ISO [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Actual = and forecasted hourly load for CAL ISO. [IMAGE] CAL ISO Chart Powered = By RER ? 2002 RER. All Rights Reserved. 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