---------------------- Forwarded by Greg Whalley/HOU/ECT on 03/08/2000 08:08 
AM ---------------------------


Rahil Jafry
03/07/2000 03:13 PM
Sent by: Rahil Jafry
To: Louise Kitchen/LON/ECT@ECT, Dave Samuels/LON/ECT@ECT, David 
Forster/HOU/ECT@ECT, Paul Goddard/LON/ECT@ECT, Awais Omar/LON/ECT@ECT, Greg 
Whalley/HOU/ECT@ECT, Julie Ferrara/HOU/ECT@ECT, Mario Parra 
Cardoso/Corp/Enron@Enron, Bob Shults/HOU/ECT@ECT
cc:  
Subject: Williams' Energy Marketing and Trading Unit Acquires Equity Interest 
In HoustonStreet.com...


---------------------- Forwarded by Rahil Jafry/HOU/ECT on 03/07/2000 03:07 
PM ---------------------------
   

Williams' Energy Marketing and Trading Unit Acquires Equity Interest In
HoustonStreet.com

03/07/2000
PR Newswire
(Copyright (c) 2000, PR Newswire)

  TULSA, Okla., March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Williams Energy Marketing & Trading
Co., a unit of Williams (NYSE: WMB), announced today that it is acquiring a
minority stake in Houston Street Exchange, a Web-based energy trading
exchange.

  Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
  Since the launch of HoustonStreet.com in July 1999, Houston Street Exchange
has established itself as one of the industry's most dynamic
business-to-business exchanges for wholesale power trading.  HoustonStreet.com
recently announced plans to launch new Web-based platforms for trading crude
and refined products at the wholesale level.

  "Emerging technologies continue to change the way the energy industry
operates, and HoustonStreet.com is on the leading edge of the revolution.
Internet-based trading has exploded, and we believe that this investment will
allow us to play a significant role in the development of new markets and
platforms," said Bill Hobbs, president of Williams Energy Marketing & Trading.

  "The investment in HoustonStreet.com is just one piece of Williams'
eBusiness strategy," added Nancy Gustine, director of eBusiness for Williams
Energy Marketing & Trading.  "By acquiring a stake in this innovator in the
electronic-exchange industry, we can capitalize on our marketing strengths
while helping them transform the trading industry."

  "To have one of the leading energy companies in the country invest in our
trading platform is a direct validation of our technology and our vision for
the future of energy trading" said Frank Getman, president and CEO of Houston
Street Exchange.  "We look forward to Williams' market strength and support in
creating the premier online energy trading platform across multiple
commodities."

  Williams' energy marketing and trading unit buys and sells all types of
energy products nationwide including natural gas and gas liquids, crude oil
and refined products and electricity.  The unit also manages its customers'
exposure to volatile energy prices using comprehensive risk management
services and creates customized energy financing solutions for producers and
end-users.

  About Houston Street Exchange

  Designed by traders for traders, Houston Street Exchange represents the
first Web portal for the trading of wholesale energy products.
HoustonStreet.com provides an online trading engine that allows traders to buy
and sell their energy products faster, more efficiently and more easily than
they do today.  Houston Street Exchange is headquartered in Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, with offices in Houston, Texas.  Houston Street Exchange is a
majority-owned subsidiary of BayCorp Holdings, Ltd. (Amex: MWH).  For more
information, visit Houston Street at www.houstonstreet.com.

  About Williams

  Williams, through its subsidiaries, connects businesses to energy and
communications.  The company delivers innovative, reliable products and
services through its extensive networks of energy-distributing pipelines and
high-speed fiber-optic cables, comprehensive energy services, including
commodity trading and risk management, and business communications systems,
international satellite and fiber-optic video services.  Based in Tulsa,
Okla., Williams operates about $25 billion in assets.  Company information is
available at www.williams.com.

  Portions of this document may constitute forward-looking statements as
defined by Federal law.  Although the company believes any such statements are
based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes
will not be materially different.  Additional information about issues that
could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the company's
annual report or form 10K, which is filed with the Securities Exchange
Commission.

/CONTACT:  Patty McKissick, Media Relations, 918-573-5738, or email,
patty.mckissick@williams.com, or D'Ann Riley, Investor Relations,
918-573-8088, or email, d'ann.riley@williams.com, both of Williams/
15:06 EST



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