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Business & Money: Bringing Back The Greenbacks

A spate of proposed U.S. tax rule changes soon may open a window of opportunity for certain utilities.

The proposed Homeland Investment Act on Repatriation may soon open a window of opportunity for U.S. companies with unrepatriated foreign earnings. If passed, it potentially would allow U.S. utilities to bring money back into the country without harsh tax penalties, thereby freeing up capital to reinvest in assets here, pay down U.S. debt, or fund other liabilities.
Byline: 

Todd M. Landau, Tadd A. Fowler, and Craig King

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Commission Watch: The Tyranny of FERC

The commission's power grab over bankruptcy courts condemns merchants to a corporate netherworld.

A new district court decision out of Texas tilts the field in favor of FERC's assertion of exclusive authority over who decides whether a debtor can terminate unprofitable power contracts. For merchant energy companies struggling with dwindling capital and mounting credit risks, this change could mean bankruptcy is no longer a viable option for reorganizing.
Byline: 

Kenneth Irvin and Robert Loeffler

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Perspective: Let's Get This Party Started

Why Ontario needs a competitive market.

Ultimately, relying on market forces is the best stick the Ontario government can use to bust open the power sector piñata and ensure that the benefits of sustainably priced, reliable electricity supplies rain down on Ontario consumers.
Byline: 

A.J. Goulding

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What Are the Prospects for Coal?

Unless gas prices stabilize, coal prices will continue rising.

Gas prices to power plants have surged in 2003 and rekin­dled interest in new coal-fired power plants. An increasing number of new coal-­fired projects have been announced in the last 12 months. Recently, however, coal prices have begun to creep up, especially in the eastern United States.
Byline: 

Tom Woods

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Letter to the Editor

Letters for May 2004.

The Chair of the NERC Load Forecasting Working Group disagrees with some conjectures in "NERC's Cloudy Crystal Ball" in the March 2004 issue.
Byline: 

John Harris

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People

People for May 2004.

Positions filled at Southern Co., World Association of Nuclear Operators, Allegheny Energy, and others.
Byline: 

PUF

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Frontlines: You're Fired!

Utilities have little to show for the millions they pay in campaign contributions.

If Donald Trump could call Congress on the carpet, he would send lawmakers packing with those two now infamous words, “You’re fired!” from his reality TV show “The Apprentice.” Now think of how many times Congress has failed to pass an energy bill without incident.
Byline: 

Richard Stavros

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Technology Corridor

Smaller systems aren't cost-effective.

It's time for a reality check on the commercial viability of wind farms. Are large wind systems more economical than small wind systems?
Byline: 

Gary C. Young, Ph.D., P.E.

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Banking on Predictability

A renewed capital investment structure is required for long-term investment in power infrastructure.

What is the relationship between capital investment and sustainable power infrastructure? A Lehman Bros. investment banker argues for a financing mechanism similar to that used with Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act contracts.
Byline: 

Frank A. Napolitano

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