Consumers Power Co. has entered into long-term sales contracts with General Motors Corp. (GM) to supply all electricity for at least 10 years to 6 of GM's largest plants, and for at least 5 years for 13 of GM's other large facilities (total service of 450 megawatts).The facilities, which account for 65 percent of the utility's "at-risk" industrial electric load and 22 percent of its industrial load, will receive rate discounts in exchange for the long-term commitments.

U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Farnan, Jr. on October 16 approved a $36.5-million settlement resolving class action lawsuits alleging securities laws violations against the bankrupt Columbia Gas System (CGS).The lawsuits were filed by various security holders against CGS, its independent public accountants, the underwriters of its 1990 stock offering, and certain officers and directors. CGS's portion of the settlement amounts to $16.5 million, with the remainder shared among the insurance carriers of various defendants.

The Citizens Advisory Panel (CAP) has released its proposal to cut rates on Long Island by 20 percent, in response to New York Gov. George Pataki's call for the dissolution of the Long Island Lighting Co. (LILCO). Electric rates on Long Island are the second-highest in the nation.

The CAP plan would slash at least $1 billion from Shoreham debt, and refinance the remaining debt with bonds issued by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). CAP believes the $1-billion cut alone would reduce electric bills 10 percent.

contract, although the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has yet to approve the new rates. These companies will now take 75 percent of their total requirements from BPA (about 1,300 Mw).

Oklahoma appears finally to have settled a 1992 Southwestern Bell Telephone (SBT) rate case, refunding customers about $438 million and cutting rates by $84.4 million annually. The settlement follows an FBI investigation and allegations of commission bias. The Oklahoma Supreme Court will formally approve the settlement once the many related, pending lawsuits are dismissed.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on October 17 ruled that plaintiffs claiming injuries related to the 1979 accident at Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant (TMI-2) may seek punitive damages. Plaintiffs may receive compensatory and punitive damages under the Price-Anderson Act from: 1) primary financial protection provided through commercial insurance policies, which is required of all nuclear utilities; and 2) secondary financial protection in the form of private liability insurance under an industry retrospective rating plan.

Low Loads, Short Ride

Kevin O'Donnell's article "Aggregating Municipal Loads: The Future is Today" (Oct. 1, 1995) argues that residential and small commercial low-load-factor customers will do well in a competitive environment. Yes, I agree that the future for these customers is definitely today. Low-load customers will do much better in the short run. As long as excess capacity exists, sellers will price at little more than short-run marginal cost. Once excess capacity dries up, however, fixed costs will have to be paid.

Entergy Corp. has hired John A. Brayman, former president of Ameritech Corp.'s telephone industry services subsidiary in Chicago. Brayman will continue company expansion into nonregulated, domestic energy, and utility-related business as executive v.p. of Entergy Enterprises, Inc. and president of an as-yet unnamed group.J. William Holden was named Southern Electric International's v.p. for operations and development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

GE Supply, a General Electric division, promoted William C. Betke to g.m.

John Anderson is jumping out of his shoes. And his socks, too. His group, the Electricity Consumers Resource Council (ELCON, where Anderson serves as executive director) may at last get its way.During a few weeks in October, a good half-dozen energy industry players (em including utilities and regulators (em came out in favor of customer choice for electric and gas service.

Better use of existing data is the key to enhanced revenue.

Utility automation seeks to reduce operational costs and deliver new value-added services.

The first goal is straightforward and quantifiable. For example, when Public Service Co.