Public utility stocks showed no signs of letting up during the fourth quarter of 1995. The Public Utilities Stock Index rallied a brisk 234.66 points, or 6.38 percent, to close at 3910.01. Not to be outdone, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 355.86 points, or 7.47 percent, to close at 5117.12, and the S&P 500 Stock Index climbed 34.21 points, or 5.88 percent, to close at 615.93.
Certain stocks sparkled more than others:
SCANA Corp. announced that the South Carolina Public Service Commission approved a $67.5-million (7.34-percent) increase in retail electric rates for the company's subsidiary, South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. The rate increase will be implemented in two phases over two years. Last month, shares for SCANA Corp. rose 18.65 percent, to close at $28.63.
Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (NiMo) submitted a proposal to the New York Public Service Commission to split the company into two separate entities and freeze rates through 2000. Niagara Mohawk is also asking eight unregulated power plants to guarantee to honor over $3 billion in obligations, rather than abandoning their plants. NiMo stock dropped 27.62 percent, to close at $9.50.