Utilities

The state House Appropriations Committee dropped $3.86 billion from a supplemental spending bill, but its chair said the money is "still in play."

The bill's sponsor pointed to board members' need for expertise.

A $3.52 billion Texas Natural Gas Securitization Finance Corp. deal includes a make-whole redemption over three years to call bonds if the state appropriates funds to pay them off.

The much-delayed $3.5 billion deal has an optional limited make-whole redemption if state lawmakers appropriate funds to defray costs for natural gas customers.

The authority's issues hamper the USVI economy, Gov. Bryan says in his state of the territory speech.

The authority said it expects production problems and higher costs in the near future.

A full review of the deal pushes its consideration by the Texas Bond Review Board into January.

The financially distressed utility has less than two weeks to find a substitute supplier of 80% of its fuel.

The deal has until the end of Friday to clear the Texas Bond Review Board, whose members had no questions about the transaction when it was presented at a Thursday meeting.

The Kansas Corporation Commission approved a $92.7 million securitization for Atmos Energy. It had already approved $328 million for Kansas Gas Service.