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Fortnightly Magazine - October 15 2002

Corporate Accountability: Utilities Take Stock

The real, painful reform has only just begun.

The real, painful reform has only just begun.

It has been almost a year since Enron imploded into bankruptcy, but rather than solve problems, the event has only brought uncertainty-credit rating downgrades, a drop in investor confidence, and heightened scrutiny from the Congress, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Byline: 
Jennifer Alvey and Lori A. Burkhart
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Cut the Pay-Out, Boost the Buy-Back?

The pros and cons of dividend pay-out reductions and stock repurchase programs in uncertain economic times.

The pros and cons of dividend pay-out reductions and stock repurchase programs in uncertain economic times.

The Dow Jones Utility Average currently stands at its lowest level in five years. Electric and gas utilities, along with U.S. companies generally, have been consistently lowering their payout ratios over the past several years, and that downward trend is projected to continue. What do these facts portend for utility investors in the near future?

Byline: 
Robert G. Rosenberg
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Flashpoint Congress

This year, or next, legislators will close in on a national energy bill.

This year, or next, legislators will close in on a national energy bill. Some agreement already looks promising for several industry flashpoints.

Byline: 

Richard Stavros

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Perspective

ITP vs. LSE, subsidies, cost recovery, regional coordination-all must be addressed to achieve FERC's goals.

Demand Response: Keep It Market- Based

 

 

Byline: 
Michael McGrath
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People

We welcome submissions to People, especially those accompanied by a Color Photograph. Send to:

Judy Pensabene has joined the Republican staff of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as deputy chief counsel. She is returning to the committee, where she worked from 1990 to 1995, after serving as vice president of federal affairs at Constellation Energy Group.

Entergy announced that Peter P. Schneider has been hired as vice president of Nuclear Human Resources, a new position within the company. Schneider's prior experience includes stints at Human Resources Strategies and Solutions, Inc., Exelon, and PECO Energy.

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Benchmarks

Small businesses give IOUs low marks on customer satisfaction.

Underwhelmed by the Utilities That Serve Them?


 

Byline: 
Clay Fong
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Reign of the Bond Kings

S&P, Moody's, and Fitch tell why credit issues now rule the energy sector.

S&P, Moody's, and Fitch tell why credit issues now rule the energy sector.

This year saw energy companies forced to make some grim choices-issuing new stock in falling markets, angering investors with dividend cutbacks, selling prized assets at fire sale prices. Some blame it on the rating agencies-the bond kings-who imposed tougher credit standards after the fall of Enron.

Byline: 
Richard Stavros
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