Influence within the pool is determined by size and the amount of electricity a utility sells.

Still other utilities, though, found themselves with surplus power and sold it at huge profits.

The rule, which will take until the year 2010 to reach its goal, also allows utilities to buy and sell pollution allowances.

If the utility sells less power than projected, its actual profits drop.

This week, the utility sold $375 million of four-year bonds.

In most states, utilities can sell gas at only the market price.

In addition, the utility sold $250 million of five-year bonds that were priced to yield 5.414 percent.

The bill would allow cable operators and electric utilities to sell local phone service.

Rather, software companies will make their money selling a service, much like utilities sell electricity.

Any utility could build a gas plant for far cheaper, he was told, and sell the electricity at a lower rate.