From: paula.rieker@enron.com
To: louise.kitchen@enron.com
Date: 2001-03-26 20:20:00+00:00
Subject: Simmons

FYI - an excerpt from today's Simmons note on ENE's conf. call from Friday
that summarizes their view of Enron.  If you'd like to listen to the call, 
it can be accessed on the www.enron.com website under "Investors".

Jeff Dietert, Simmmons, will be joining Craig Albert in the meeting Tues. afternoon
I am headed to NYC on Tuesday for marketing.  Joining Craig and Jeff from Enron IR
will be Scott Vonderheide and David Leboe (David is new to IR from Wes Colwell's structuring
group).  Pls. call if you have anything you'd like to discuss prior to the meeting.  
Thanks, Paula




SUMMARY:  ENE held a conference call primarily to confirm that its business
units are on-track and to dispel some rumors in the marketplace.  ENE
reiterated its FY01 EPS guidance of $1.70-$1/75, which we consider to be
conservative (consensus is $1.74/sh, SCI-$1.80/sh).  ENE did not discuss
any change to 1Q01 EPS expectations (guidance $0.40-$0.45/sh, consensus
$0.45, SCI $0.43/sh).  Many of ENE's comments concerning the wholesale
energy trading confirm comments we are consistently getting from all the
energy convergence players.  The California situation is forcing utilities
across the country to deal with risk exposure to avoid a PG&E/Edison
situation.  Most utilities and other gas/electricity consumers are not
prepared to manage these risk and are now outsourcing energy management
activities to sophisticated marketing companies.  In addition, new
generation facilities are offering gas marketing opportunities.  ENE is
clearly the leader in energy marketing, trading & risk management.  There
are a few other sophisticated MT&RM companies (DYN, EPG, WMB, DUK, MIR,
Aquila), but there is a huge drop in sophistication below these top tier
marketers.  We believe the vast majority of the opportunity is being
captured by these few strong players.  ENE is expecting 1Q01 natural gas
volumes to be up 25% to 30% and electricity volumes to be up 25% to 50%
over 1Q00.

OPINION:  It is tough to get excited about buying a 30x multiple stock is a
market as ugly as the one we are currently experiencing.  However, ENE is
the leader in energy convergence and should be a part of any growth and/or
energy portfolio.  There are few opportunities to build a position in the
stock at reasonable valuations and we believe ENE's current valuation is
very attractive (31x FY01, 26x FY02).   Business fundamentals are quite
strong and ENE is benefiting from a market where tight energy markets
encourage customers to focus on large, well-established suppliers for their
energy requirements.

CLEARING UP THE NOISE:
   EBS LAYOFFS.  Rumors have circulated that ENE was laying off employees
   in its Broadband segment and even that it was disbanding its Broadband
   business.  We expect ENE to continue to build the Intermediation and
   Content Services units.  ENE expects to build its Network with a larger
   percentage of contracted capacity than previously expected and reduced
   its capital expenditure expectations from $750 million this year to $250
   million.  The reduced activity in building out the Network is
   contributing to reduced staffing requirements in the Network area.
   PGE DIVESTITURE.  CEO Jeff Skilling placed only a 5% probability on the
   completion of the $1.7 billion PGE sale to Sierra Pacific.  The PGE
   asset is likely to continue as part of the ENE portfolio in the
   near-term.  We had previously considered PGE to be a discontinued
   business.  PGE EPS contributions will be marginally positive to FY01 EPS
   expectations.
   INDIA GENERATION.  ENE's Dabhol, India power project (826 MW) is
   experiencing a similar crisis to the one in California.  The electricity
   purchaser of the power generated by Dabhol is backed by the Indian
   government, but has not been able to pass through the increased cost of
   power caused by higher oil prices.  ENE has been relying on the
   guarantee from the Indian government for payment for its electricity
   sales. ENE has continued to receive payment from he government but is
   subject to regulatory risks for this project.
   CALIFORNIA CREDIT EXPOSURE.  We believe ENE is managing its credit risk
   appropriately.