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Call Mark Johnson at 303-782-5510       [IMAGE]     [IMAGE]  Advertisement RER      ELECTRIC POWER NEWS - TOP STORIES      [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   [IMAGE] Energy Central's editors have selected these as the top stories of the day:    Australia CitiPower set for trade sale or IPO  By Wendy Pugh, MELBOURNE, Feb 4 (Reuters) Boston-Area Utility NStar Says $22.5 Million in Penalties Is Excessive  By Peter J. Howe, The Boston Globe, Feb. 4 Former Enron Chief, Citing Criticism, Decides Not to Testify before Congress  By Anne E. Kornblut, The Boston Globe, Feb. 4 Lights out on Edison bid for NZ's Contact  WELLINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) -     [IMAGE]     [IMAGE]   ELECTRIC POWER NEWS - MOST REQUESTED      [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   [IMAGE] These stories have been most requested by Energy Central members in the last two weeks.    Court overturns approval of AEP, Central SW merger     By Julie Vorman, WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters)  Enron's Cutthroat Culture Is Deplored by Those It Served to Profit     By Claudia Kolker, The Boston Globe, Jan. 27  FERC audit shows flaws in Calif power grid operator     By Chris Baltimore, WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters)  Arthur Andersen's CEO Points a Finger at Enron's Business Model     By Julie Mason, Houston Chronicle, Jan. 21  Report Offers Bright Outlook for California Power Authority     By Rick Jurgens, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Jan. 19     [IMAGE]     [IMAGE]   GAS INDUSTRY NEWS - TOP STORIES      [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   [IMAGE] Energy Central's editors have selected these as the top stories of the day:    Enbridge buys more U.S. gas pipelines for $178 mln  CALGARY, Alberta, Feb 4 (Reuters) Gazprom drops plans to build second gas pipeline to western Europe  Feb 04, 2002 - Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) Maritimes seeks expanded gas line to U.S. Northeast  NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters)     [IMAGE]     [IMAGE]   UTILITY STOCK PRICE - TOP GAINERS      [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   [IMAGE] Utility Stock Price Movers And Shakers (Top Gainers)  [IMAGE]    One Week  Company Ticker Percent Change First Energy  FE  7.0   NRG Energy  NRG  5.7   GPU Inc.  GPU  3.5   ALLETE (MPL) 1  ALE  2.6   Chesapeake Utilites  CPK  2.4   Conectiv (DEW/ATE)  CIV  2.1   IDACORP (Idaho Power)  IDA  1.9   Calpine  CPN  1.7   Duke Energy  DUK  1.4      30 day  Company Ticker Percent Change PGE Corp  PCG  9.0   Atmos Energy Co.  ATO  8.0   ALLETE (MPL) 1  ALE  7.9   First Energy  FE  7.3   Alliant Energy 1  LNT  5.7   Pinnacle West Capital  PNW  5.6   IDACORP (Idaho Power)  IDA  5.6   KeySpan  KSE  5.2   DPL Inc  DPL  4.9      90 day  Company Ticker Percent Change PGE Corp  PCG  40.8   Edison International  EIX  23.7   GPU Inc.  GPU  15.3   Otter Tail Power*  OTTR  13.9   ALLETE (MPL) 1  ALE  11.7   First Energy  FE  6.9   Hawaiian Electric1  HE  6.8   Conectiv (DEW/ATE)  CIV  6.4   Nstar  NST  5.1      Powered By Baird   ? 2002 Roberts W. Baird & CO. Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.  Terms of Use       [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 Today   RER's eMetrix Load Forecast: CAL ISO  Electric Power News - Top Stories  Electric Power News - Most Requested  Gas Industry News - Top Stories  Utility Stock Price - Top Gainers           Selected Content Not In This Issue   Utility Spotlight - Every Monday      [IMAGE]     [IMAGE]      [IMAGE]  ELECTRIC POWER NEWS     [IMAGE]      [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Selected 95 of 95  Articles Today!      THESE ARTICLES BROUGHT TO YOU BY     Save $100 now on "Load Management 2001 - Balancing Customers, Regulators and Energy Demand" by The C Three Group. The report reveals how programs are in a state of flux with some vendors struggling as utilities face great ambiguity. It includes candid and sometimes hard-hitting commentary on the design details of 18 leading utility programs as well as 23 vendor profiles. The report analyzes major issues, trends and technology developments. Gain insights and competitive intelligence in this essential report. Complete table of contents and profile samples are available at  http://www.energycentral.com/links/show_mi.cfm?id=100837         Top Stories     Former Enron Chief, Citing Criticism, Decides Not to Testify before Congress   By Anne E. Kornblut, The Boston Globe, Feb. 4 Kenneth L. Lay, the former Enron chairman under mounting suspicion for the company's spectacular failure, last night unexpectedly canceled plans to testify before Congress after hearing prominent lawmakers condemn him on television talk shows yesterday.  [IMAGE]   Lights out on Edison bid for NZ's Contact   WELLINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. utility Edison Mission Energy Ltd (EME) has missed out on taking over New Zealand's largest power company, Contact Energy Ltd, after failing to sway key institutional shareholders.  [IMAGE]   Boston-Area Utility NStar Says $22.5 Million in Penalties Is Excessive   By Peter J. Howe, The Boston Globe, Feb. 4 NStar Electric said Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly's call for $22.5 million in penalties for the utility because of last summer's frequent power outages is not only excessive but contradicts Reilly's earlier statements on the issue.  [IMAGE]   Australia CitiPower set for trade sale or IPO   By Wendy Pugh, MELBOURNE, Feb 4 (Reuters) Victorian electricity retailer and network company CitiPower is set to be sold by trade sale or initial public offering later this year following American Electric Power's decision to divest the asset.       Press Release     npower Simplifies Its Gas, Electricity and Telco Billing Process With SPL WorldGroup   Morristown, New Jersey ? February 4th, 2002 SPL WorldGroup, the leading provider of customer management solutions to the global energy industry, and npower, one of the UK?s largest retail energy companies, has successfully implemented SPL?s industry leading customer management application. Meeting an aggressive six-month timetable for implementation, npower is now able to provide its new gas and electricity customers with a single bill for both energy products.      Energy Security     People Close To A Reactor Feel Safe; Terror Warning Arouses No Fear   Feb 04 - Record - Bergen County Burgers are the favorite at Johnny Rits sports bar, just a beer bottle's throw from the entrance to the Indian Point nuclear plant in this blue-collar Hudson River village 35 miles north of Manhattan.       Ridge Opposes Federal Nuke Guards   Feb 03 - Associated Press Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said Sunday that private security forces at nuclear power plants should not be replaced with federal guards, siding with federal regulators and the industry.    [IMAGE] ADVERTISEMENT    ENERGIZE YOUR CAREER - The Energy Central Job Center has a new look,  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          Enron Debacle     Senate panel plans to subpoena Enron's Lay   WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The chairman of the powerful Senate Commerce Committee on Monday said he would force former Enron Corp. chairman Kenneth Lay to appear before his panel and called for a special prosecutor to probe the failed energy giant's ties to the Bush administration.       Enron deception started at top-Enron director   WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Enron Corp. tried to systematically manipulate its results and deceive shareholders as top executives raked in millions of dollars in personal gains, the author of an internal inquiry into the company's collapse told Congress on Monday.       Enron chief financial officer to take the Fifth   WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) Enron's former chief financial officer, who is charged with pocketing $30 million from questionable deals that led to the company's collapse, will not answer questions in testimony before Congress, a lawmaker investigating the firm said on Sunday.       Enron Europe liabilities billions of dollars   LONDON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers said on Monday it had told creditors that collapsed energy company Enron Europe had "billions" of dollars of liabilities.       Congressmen question legality of some Enron transactions   By PETE YOST Associated Press Writer, WASHINGTON, Feb 03, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Two members of Congress pointed to possible criminality in the Enron scandal Sunday, saying the company manufactured income out of its off-the-books partnership deals that led to financial disaster.       Enron Swallowed $357M in PGE Payments   PORTLAND, Ore., Feb 03, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Portland General Electric sent Enron more than $357 million in federal tax money collected from its ratepayers during the past four years, but its parent company pocketed the money rather than turn it over to the government, a public interest group said.       Internal Enron Probe Finds Abuses   By KRISTEN HAYS Associated Press Writer, HOUSTON, Feb 04, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Enron Corp. executives pocketed large amounts of money in running complex partnerships used to disguise the troubled energy company's financial problems while top managers and auditors provided little oversight, an internal probe found.       ANALYSIS: Internal Report Suggests Why Enron Executives Are So Quiet Now   By Jim Landers, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 4 After Enron Corp.'s own report on what went wrong, perhaps it's not surprising that Kenneth Lay and several other ex-executives are electing to stay away or stay mum before Congress this week.       Enron Rode U.S. Policy, Washington Ties to Lofty But Failed Overseas Ventures   By Jim Landers, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 2 In many ways, says Chamber of Commerce executive Michael Clark, "the business of U.S. foreign policy in the 1990s was business."       Enron Debacle Forces Sharper Focus on Company Audit Committees   By Dan Feldstein, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 4 At the last meeting of the Reliant Energy board of directors' audit committee, the subject was Enron Corp. and its highly creative accounting.       Interview Offers Glimpse at Then-Enron Chairman's Influence   By Eric Berger, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 4 An interview last May with Enron Corp.'s then-chairman Ken Lay has revealed more of his influence on the nation's energy policy.       Former Enron Chairman's Rise as Dramatic as His Fall   Houston Chronicle, Feb. 3 One day last August, Ken Lay faced more than 1,000 Enron employees in the grand ballroom at the Hyatt Regency downtown.       Former Enron Workers Feel Let Down as Former Chairman Alters Plans   By Steve Brewer, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 4 For former Enron employees in Houston, Ken Lay's televised testimony before Congress was going to be the equivalent of Sunday's Super Bowl.       Class-Action Suit against Enron May Include You   By Pamela R. Winnick, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Feb. 4 Did you lose your shirt investing in Enron stock?       Andersen to hire former Fed Volcker to restore rep-ABC   WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) Embattled auditor Andersen, criticized for its handling of fallen Enron Corp.'s books, plans to hire former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker to help the firm restore its credibility, ABC News reported on Sunday, citing no sources.       Enron officials seen facing criminal prosecution   WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - An internal Enron Corp. report showing the company inflated profits while top employees raked in millions of dollars they should not have received puts some Enron executives in jeopardy of criminal prosecution, key members of the U.S. Congress said on Sunday.       FACTBOX-Congress hearings schedule on Enron/Andersen   WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) The following are the hearings that the U.S. Congress has firmly scheduled on the collapse of Enron Corp., the role of its auditor Andersen, and related regulatory issues over the coming weeks. Latest information added is marked with *.       AFL-CIO asks SEC bar Enron directors from boards   WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The AFL-CIO called on U.S. regulators on Monday to bar directors of Enron Corp. from serving on other companies' boards, arguing the directors were "substantially unfit" for such duties.       Ex-Enron CEO Skilling still plans to testify   WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) One-time Enron Corp. Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling still plans to testify before a congressional committee later this week, his spokeswoman said on Monday, unlike other former executives of the fallen energy giant.       Deep Roots of Enron Fall Studied   By BRAD FOSS AP Business Writer, HOUSTON, Feb 03, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Enron's crash now is being tracked back to deceptive accounting and unbridled deal-making that were part of the company's culture for years.       Enron Specter Haunts World Forum   By EILEEN ALT POWELL AP Business Writer, NEW YORK, Feb 03, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- If there is a ghost haunting the World Economic Forum, it belongs to Enron Corp.       Excerpts From Enron Investigation   HOUSTON, Feb 03, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) --  Here are excerpts from a 203-page internal probe into partnerships that helped fuel Enron Corp.'s collapse last year:       British and U.S. unions call for accountants' body to investigate Wakeham   LONDON, Feb 04, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) --  The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales said on Monday it was awaiting information from U.S. authorities before deciding whether to investigate former government minister John Wakeham in connection with his role as a director of Enron Corp.       No 10 did not reveal all Enron talks   Feb 04 - The Guardian The row over the web of influence built up by the collapsed energy giant Enron deepened yesterday as it emerged that Downing Street failed to disclose a number of meetings the company held with ministers and key advisers to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.       California system was easy pickings / Enron helped build market, then exploited weaknesses   Feb 03 - San Francisco Chronicle Long before Enron Corp.'s plunge from riches to rags, the Houston energy maverick's aggressive campaign to push government regulators out of the electricity industry found its best business opportunity in California.       Cooper Aims to Reform Enron Into Firm with Predictable Cash Flows   Feb. 4 (Utility Spotlight) In his first day as interim CEO of Enron, bankruptcy restructuring specialist Stephen Cooper said he will focus on quickly returning the troubled firm into an energy company centered around international and domestic power plants and natural gas facilities that will provide predictable revenues and cash flow. Special Offer from this Publisher!        Chair of Georgia GOP Says He's Willing to Answer Enron Questions   By Jim Galloway, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb. 2 During the eight months he's been their chairman, Georgia Republicans have found out that when you get Ralph Reed, you get many things.       Enron Executives Reassured Employees, Investors as Firm Spun Out of Control   By Charlene Oldham, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 3 With that very public reassurance, Kenneth Lay predicted blue skies on the day that protege Jeffrey Skilling unexpectedly stepped down after a six-month stint as Enron Corp.'s chief executive.       Jesse Jackson, Others Reiterate Efforts to Get Relief for Ex-Enron Workers   By Mary Vuong, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 4 The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Sunday reiterated his mission to seek financial relief for former Enron employees during a Houston gathering before heading to Washington, D.C., with several of those workers to watch Ken Lay's scheduled testimony before Congress today.       Harris County, Texas, District Attorney Says Staff Will Not Investigate Enron   By Alan Bernstein, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 2 Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal said Friday his staff is not investigating the possibility of criminal actions in the financial collapse of Enron Corp. because it has no evidence state laws were broken.       Houston Congressman Bentsen Heads Roundtable Session for Ex-Enron Workers   By Lori Rodriguez, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 4 On the eve of a congressional hearing today that was to feature former Enron Chairman Ken Lay, Houston Congressman Ken Bentsen met with former company employees Sunday to hammer out questions for the ex-CEO about the collapse of the company and the subsequent plight of its workforce.       GOP whip DeLay calls for Lay to testify   WASHINGTON, Feb 04, 2002 (United Press International via COMTEX) --  A key Republican lawmaker Monday joined the call for former Enron head Kenneth Lay to appear before congressional committees investigating the collapse of the Houston energy giant.       Enron inquiry in Senate focuses on manipulation of futures prices   Feb. 4 (Public Power Weekly) A Jan. 29 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Enron focused on indications that the energy trading company may have manipulated prices of futures contracts. Special Offer from this Publisher!       National Energy Policy     Bush budget slashes U.S. oil, natgas research funds   WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) The U.S. Energy Department's oil and natural gas research programs were slashed under President George W. Bush's new fiscal 2003 budget released on Monday, while renewable energy and efficiency programs received a slight funding boost.       Enron Disclosures Weigh on Bush   WASHINGTON, Feb 03, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) --  A Republican committee chairman said Sunday the Bush administration probably will end up revealing information about its energy meetings, amid reports of more contacts with Enron and other power companies.       Debate continues over disclosure of Bush White House energy meetings   WASHINGTON, Feb 03, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) --  A Republican committee chairman says the Bush administration probably will end up revealing information about its energy meetings, amid reports of more contacts with Enron and other power companies.      Competition & Deregulation     CEO of Georgia Gas Utility Criticizes Electric Company's Moves   By Matthew C. Quinn, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb. 2 The debate over natural gas deregulation turned into a boardroom brawl Friday when the top executive of Georgia's No. 1 gas company warned the state's top electric company to butt out of its business.       New Jersey Power Suppliers Go Shopping   Feb 04 - Record - Bergen County New Jersey's four electric utilities are going on a shopping spree Monday, securing power for their customers in the year ahead.       Electric Deregulation Stalls, Maybe Forever   Feb 04 - Arkansas Business THE MOVE TO A RETAIL open-access electricity market in Arkansas stalled, maybe permanently, last month, leaving companies in the energy business to perform some fancy footwork.       PSC scrutinizes power-bidding practices in quest to curb costs   Feb 04 - New Orleans CityBusiness STATE REGULATORS ARE preparing to turn up the heat on utilities to make sure they get bulk power at the cheapest available price.       Energy industry poised for offensive   Feb 03 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The U.S. energy industry is mobilizing in the aftermath of Enron Corp.'s collapse against attempts to slow down or reverse deregulation of power markets, setting the stage for the biggest debate over the issue since the California energy crisis last year.      Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures     AEP hires advisers for UK, Australia sales   COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb 4 (Reuters) - American Electric Power Co. Inc. on Monday said it has retained Schroder Salomon Smith Barney and ABN Amro to advise it on prospects for the divestment of Seeboard, its electric and gas utility in southeast England.       NW Natural Positive on PGE Purchase; Others See Debt, Rate Issues   Feb. 4 (Clearing Up) NW Natural remains confident that its proposed purchase of Portland General from Enron will go through. Special Offer from this Publisher!       California Crisis     Generators' Plan to Take Over Cal-PX Faces Resistance in Bankruptcy Court   Feb. 4 (Utility Spotlight) In what is getting to be a new era of energy bankruptcies, a quieter, but no less complicated, bankruptcy is taking place in a federal court here involving the defunct non-profit, state-chartered California Power Exchange squaring off against a committee of merchant power suppliers who used to participate in the day-ahead, day-of, hourly and forward wholesale electricity markets. Special Offer from this Publisher!        CPUC Goes Retro on Direct Access   Feb. 4 (California Energy Markets) In a move that could influence the Enron investigation, the California Public Utilities Commission on January 25 issued a proposed decision that would retroactively suspend direct access to July 1, 2001 [R01-01-011].  Special Offer from this Publisher!       Legislation/Regulation     US FERC wants $8 mln budget hike to $200 mln for FY03   WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) Reflecting a bigger emphasis on market enforcement, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requested a budget of nearly $200 million for fiscal 2003, up about $8 million from this year.       PUCT Transition After Chairman Yzaguirre Resigns Is Smooth   Feb. 4 (Texas Electric Market Reporter) At the start of its January 23 Open Meeting, Commissioner Klein announced that she and Commissioner Perlman would share chairman duties until such time as a new Chairman is appointed by the Governor after Chairman Yzaguirre resigned from the PuCT on January 18. Special Offer from this Publisher!       General     ComEd will allow audit of upgrade costs   Feb 04 - Chicago Sun - Times Commonwealth Edison has agreed to an outside audit of its 1999 and 2000 outlays to upgrade its electrical systems following the summer of 1999's widespread power failures in the city.      Trading/Marketing     CFTC member raises concerns over Enron trading   WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) A member of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission warned U.S. lawmakers that there are "gaping holes" in regulating the kind of trading carried out by Enron Corp. and said it was premature to conclude that the company did not manipulate energy markets.      New Technologies/Markets     Emerging Technology Companies Showcased at Energy Venture Fair   by Jon T. Brock, IssueAlert, Feb. 1 (Scientech) Seventy-five emerging technology companies in the energy industry converged on Houston, Texas earlier this week in what could be called a "dating service" for those seeking to raise capital in a tight market. Special Offer from this Publisher!       Power Pricing/Supply     Outages, Cold Winter Weather Support Central Power Prices   Feb. 4 (Btu's Daily Power Report) Central power prices continue to remain strong on the colder weather, though some regions were cheaper than traders had expected despite temperatures dipping to below normal levels. Special Offer from this Publisher!        Task Force Taken to Task   Feb. 1 (Energy Market Report) Western heavy load energy costs for Monday delivery were mostly steady from levels reported for the Friday/Saturday package as weather forecasts called for warmer weather in the new week and spot gas prices remained relatively stable. Special Offer from this Publisher!       Transmission & Reliability     Budget to boost 2003 Bonneville transmission spending   By Chris Baltimore, WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) The fiscal 2003 Bush budget unveiled on Monday would give new funding of $134 million to public power producer Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to build new electricity transmission lines and other facilities in the Pacific Northwest.       PUCO initiates Commission Ordered Investigation into line extensions   Feb 04 - Toledo Business Journal The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) initiated a Commission Ordered Investigation (COI) for the purpose of gaining information on past and present line extension policies and procedures of FirstEnergy Corp., American Electric Power, and Monongahela Power Company.       New England/New York ISO Compact Supports FERC Plan for 4 Giant RTOs   Feb. 4 (Utility Spotlight) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's goal of creating four giant regional transmission organizations took a big step forward last week when ISO New England and the New York-ISO agreed to develop "a common electricity marketplace for their adjacent regions based on a common market design." Special Offer from this Publisher!        FERC may allow 13% rate of return for MISO t-lines   Feb. 4 (Public Power Weekly) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission members at a Jan. 30 meeting left no doubt that they are open to higher rates of return for transmission service, potentially as high as 13%?or 16% for new facilities?for the Midwest Independent System Operator. Special Offer from this Publisher!       Power Projects     PG?sees Conn. power plant in service in 2 weeks   NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) To help serve the growing need for power in Connecticut and the rest of New England, PG?National Energy Group expects the 792 megawatt Lake Road power plant to begin commercial service within two weeks, the company said Monday.       Alliant Iowa utility unit plans 500-MW power plant   SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 4 (Reuters) Alliant Energy Corp. said on Monday its Iowa utility subsidiary plans to build a 500-megawatt power plant in the state after the company did not receive any bids on the project from other energy companies.       Plant opponents appeal air permit; EPA to decide whether objection will be heard   Feb 04 - South Bend Tribune Opponents of a $570 million, 1,100-megawatt power plant proposed for the Niles Industrial Park aren't ready to throw in the towel.      Legal     Dallas-Area Utility Files for Bankruptcy, Sues Lender   By Katie Fairbank, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 2 CoServ girded for the next level of legal battle on Friday by declaring bankruptcy to halt foreclosure on more than $1 billion worth of property.       Enron scandal highlights debate over lawyers' duty to report client wrongdoing   By ANNE GEARAN Associated Press Writer, PHILADELPHIA, Feb 03, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Lawyers may be among the losers in the Enron scandal if it turns out they turned a blind eye to accounting flimflams or worse at the failed energy trading company.      Renewables     Bush pushes renewable energy in new budget   WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - President Bush on Monday proposed a 2.7 percent increase in the Energy Department's discretionary spending for the 2003 spending year and the administration calls for significant tax incentives to encourage energy efficiency and use of renewable resources.       Board OKs land use for AEP wind turbine   Feb 04 - South Bend Tribune A device similar to a windmill will be built outside New Buffalo by American Electric Power Co. to gauge the ability of nature here to produce electricity.       Green energy: next niche of development   Feb 04 - Northern Ontario Business The bone-chilling wind that cuts through Sudburians; in winter may eventually play a role in keeping them warm.       GEPHARDT NAMES RENEWABLES AS PRIORITY #1 FOR NEXT DECADE   Feb. 1 (Wind Energy Weekly) In a speech before the Democratic Leadership Council on January 29, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) listed energy security based on renewable resources as the most important goal for this decade. Special Offer from this Publisher!       Plants     ANP sees 570-MW Mass. power plant in service in Q2   NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) American National Power expects to have its new 570 megawatts (MW) natural gas-fired power plant in Bellingham, Massachusetts, in service during the second quarter of 2002, the company said on Monday.      Fuel     Enron had sights set on UK coal control   Feb 04 - Scotland on Sunday ENRON, the collapsed US energy giant, tried to take control of all coal imports into the UK, according to industry sources.      Environmental     Montana Power wants to continue operation from polluted reservoir   Feb 04 - The Billings Gazette For the fourth time in 15 years, Montana Power Co. has asked federal regulators to extend its operating license at Milltown Dam while the Environmental Protection Agency continues work on a cleanup plan for the polluted sediments in its reservoir.       Canada?s Kyoto Con Job   Feb. 4 (Electricity Daily) Canada?s official greenhouse plan makes no sense. Special Offer from this Publisher!       Nuclear     Iran warns Israel against attacking nuclear plant   DUBAI, Feb 4 (Reuters) Iran warned Israel on Monday not to consider attacking its nuclear power plant, saying the Islamic republic would retaliate in ways "unimaginable" to the Jewish state.       Nuclear power facility still operating after crack in reactor reportedly widening   by ANTHONY DEUTSCH Associated Press Writer, PETTEN, Netherlands, Feb 04, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- A crack in the wall of a small nuclear reactor raised concerns about safety practices at a medical and science research institute, which agreed Monday to shut down later this week to allow more tests and training.      Financial     Budget would cut Tenn. Valley Authority spending 8 pct   WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) The Bush administration's fiscal 2003 budget proposal released on Monday would shave $634 million from the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) federally backed capital expenditures.       PPL stock is down, but not out   Feb 03 - Morning Call PPL Corp.'s stock price gained lots of momentum over the past eight months.       US companies struggle to ease accounting fears   By Julie MacIntosh, NEW YORK, Feb 3 (Reuters) The fallout triggered by the Enron Corp. scandal has taken on a life of its own, fueled by investor anxiety, and is now reaching into the nooks and crannies of major boardrooms across Corporate America.      Financial - Ratings     TRADE IDEA-JP Morgan says to "overweight" Calpine   NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. has advised investors to "overweight" bonds of independent power producer Calpine Corp.       British Energy sharply lower as Merrill slashes estimates   LONDON, Feb 04, 2002 (AFX-UK via COMTEX) --  Shares in British Energy PLC headed the mid-cap fallers list after Merrill Lynch slashed its profits forecasts for the group due to the persistent weakness of the energy market, said dealers.      Financial - Results     Parent of Tucson, Ariz., Power Firm Says Energy Sales Helped Net Income   By Alan D. Fischer, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Feb. 2 Strong wholesale energy sales helped boost UniSource Energy Corp.'s 2001 annual net income by 46 percent over a year ago, the company announced Friday.       CMS posts loss on warm weather, weak economy   DEARBORN, Mich., Feb 4 (Reuters) CMS Energy Corp. on Monday reported a fourth-quarter loss on higher power costs, as well as warmer-than-normal weather and the weak economy which cut demand.      International     Enron collapse becomes an object lesson for Asian utilities   Feb 04, 2002 - Associated Press Enron Corp.'s collapse, and other energy companies' subsequent revision of expansion plans, may pose investment opportunities for Asian power companies but it will also slow deregulation schedules, said delegates at the Asia Power Conference 2002 in Singapore Monday.       UAE plans to link national power grid into regional network   By Mena Report Reporters, February 4, 2002 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ambitious plans to develop its existing power stations and to upgrade their productive capacities, Minister of Electricity and Water Humaid Bin Nasser Al-Owais stated at the opening of Middle East Electricity exhibition this week.       Prosecutors open probe into energy cuts to military, but blackouts continue   By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press Writer, MOSCOW, Feb 04, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Russian prosecutors on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula have opened a criminal investigation into an electric utility that cut power to military space facilities because of debts, while blackouts continued at other Russian military sites Monday.       Credit Suisse will reportedly handle energy privatization   Feb 04, 2002 (New World Publishing via COMTEX) --  Credit Suisse First Boston has reportedly been approached by the Trade and Industry Ministry to contact potential bidders for the Czech energy sector.       Gov't hot, CEZ cold on a private near-future   By Chris Johnstone, Feb 04, 2002 (New World Publishing via COMTEX) --  While the Czech government is keeping alive hopes that it can pull off its biggest privatization ever - the sale of the CEZ electricity package - before June elections, the country's dominant power producer has already given up on an early sale.       Italy to receive new electricity supply from Greece   Feb 3, 2002, (Il Sole 24 Ore /FT Information via COMTEX) --  The Italian energy market will soon receive a new supply of electricity from Greece.       Minister Allays Fears Of NEPA Workers On Privatisation   By Emmanuel Aziken, Abuja, Feb 04, 2002 (Vanguard/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --  THE Minister of State for Power and Steel, Mallam Murtala Aliyu, has urged anxious staff of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) to be assured of government commitment to their welfare even after the privatisation of the electric utility.       BNDES has R$28.5bi to finance power sector   Brazil, Feb 1, 2002 (Jornal do Brasil/SABI via COMTEX) --  The BNDES (Banco de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social) has announced that its portfolio of investment resources for energy generation projects for 2002 is R$28.5bil, of which R$11.7bil is from the banks own resources.       Budget earmarks $8 billion for energy investment   Feb. 4 (Latin American Power Watch) Brazil is stepping up investment in the energy sector this year, according to the federal budget. Special Offer from this Publisher!        Endesa to reduce Latin American investments   Brazil, Feb 1, 2002 (O Globo/SABI via COMTEX) --  Endesa, Spain's largest energy company, is going to reduce its investments in Latin America.   [IMAGE]     Powered by Energy Central   ? 2002 CyberTech, Inc. All rights reserved.  More News           [IMAGE]     [IMAGE] Top    [IMAGE]  RESTRUCTURING TODAY      [IMAGE]      [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   [IMAGE] [IMAGE] February 05, 2002     Justice to White House: Hang onto Enron documents  Enron's board  brutally frank  in blaming self      Harvey Goldschmid advocated making securities law      Enron scraps  get really big      New Pa regulator confirmed      Enron ties lead to Lord John's quitting      What about the  Kenneth Lay prof?      Southern Union gets ready for Tex gas market      Ore industrials see high prices if PGE is sold to gas firm      Is it OK to make money on power sold to tenants?      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