jü( )l, n: A unit of energy measurement equal to a watt-second.

According to a Newton-Evans Research Co. survey of 60 information system managers from gas, electric, and water utilities in more than 12 countries:

s About 45 percent of utilities surveyed plan to replace current computer systems through 1997.

s IOUs tend to spend more for information technology than their publicly operated peers: close to 3 percent of revenues.

s About half the utilities have considered commercializing one or more of their internal information technologies.

Consumers Power Co. has agreed to provide Dow Corning Corp. with increased power at more competitive costs over eight years. A separate agreement calls for a Consumers affiliate, the Midland Cogeneration Venture, to sell about one billion pounds of steam annually to Dow, increasing electric service about 40 Mw and allowing development of Dow affiliate Hemlock Semiconductor Corp., a joint venture with Shin-Etsu Handotai Co. and Mitsubishi Materials Corp.

AYP Capital, an unregulated subsidiary of Allegheny Power System, Inc. plans to buy Duquesne Light Co.'s 50-percent interest in a coal-fired generating unit at the Fort Martin Power Station for about $170 million. AYP plans to sell 276 Mw as an IPP.

Louisville Gas & Electric Co. has become the second energy company to install AT&T's Integrated Broadband Utility Solution, a two-way customer communications system. Public Service Electric & Gas Co. (PSE&G) was the first. PSE&G also selected Sierra Wireless, Inc. cellular data modems for its planned wireless system for field service workers.

Kipin Industries, Inc. and Illinois Power Co. have designed a Thermal RecyclingÔ Facility that treats nonhazardous oil and coal tar as well as contaminated soils, liquids, and sludges.

Itron, a data acquisition and energy information solutions supplier, has formed Genesis ServicesÔ, a new division that will offer automatic meter-reading outsourcing, networked communications, and utility business partnering. t

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