25010 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 83 / Friday, April 28, 2000 / Notices

1Holding Co. Act Release No. 27128.

2Holding Co. Act Release No. 26977.

3The Applicants have also filed in S.E.C. file no.

70–9609 an application-declaration related to the

financing of the proposed Energy East registered

holding company system.

4The Merger will be accounted for as an

acquisition of CMP Group, CTG Resources and

Berkshire Energy by Energy East under the purchase

method of accounting in accordance with generally

accepted accounting principles.

addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad

Retirement Board, 844 North Rush

Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60611–2092

and the OMB reviewer, Joe Lackey (202–

395–7316), Office of Management and

Budget, Room 10230, New Executive

Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Chuck Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–10618 Filed 4–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905–01–M

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Agency Forms Submitted for OMB

Review

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad

Retirement Board (RRB) has submitted

the following proposal(s) for the

collection of information to the Office of

Management and Budget for review and

approval.

Summary of Proposal(s)

(1) Collection title: Nonresident

Questionnaire.

(2) Form(s) submitted: RRB–1001.

(3) OMB Number: 3220–0145.

(4) Expiration date of current OMB

clearance: 6/30/2000.

(5) Type of request: Revision of a

currently approved collection.

(6) Respondents: Individuals or

households.

(7) Estimated annual number of

respondents: 1,500.

(8) Total annual responses: 1,500.

(9) total annual reporting hours: 750.

(10) Collection description: Under the

Railroad Retirement Act, the benefits

payable to an annuitant living outside

the United States may be subject to

withholding under Public Laws 98–21

and 98–76. The form obtains the

information needed to determine the

amount to be withheld.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Copies of the forms and supporting

documents can be obtained from Chuck

Mierzwa, the agency clearance officer

(312–751–3363). Comments regarding

the information collection should be

addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad

Retirement Board, 844 North Rush

Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60611–2092

and the OMB reviewer, Joe Lackey (202–

395–7316), Office of Management and

Budget, Room 10230, New Executive

Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Chuck Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–10627 Filed 4–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905–01–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

[Release No. 35–27171]

Filings Under the Public Utility Holding

Company Act of 1935, as Amended

(‘‘Act’’)

April 21, 2000.

Notice is hereby given that the

following filing(s) has/have been made

with the Commission pursuant to

provisions of the Act and rules

promulgated under the Act. All

interested persons are referred to the

application(s) and/or declaration(s) for

complete statements of the proposed

transaction(s) summarized below. The

application(s) and/or declaration(s) and

any amendment(s) is/are available for

public inspection through the

Commission’s Branch of Public

Reference.

Interested persons wishing to

comment or request a hearing on the

application(s) and/or declaration(s)

should submit their views in writing by

May 16, 2000, to the Secretary,

Securities and Exchange Commission,

Washington, DC 20549–0609, and serve

a copy on the relevant applicant(s) and/

or declarant(s) at the address(es)

specified below. Proof of service (by

affidavit or, in the case of an attorney at

law, by certificate) should be filed with

the request. Any request for hearing

should identify specifically the issues of

facts or law that are disputed. A person

who so requests will be notified of any

hearing, if ordered, and will receive a

copy of any notice or order issued in the

matter. After May 16, 2000, the

application(s) and/or declaration(s), as

filed or as amended, may be granted

and/or permitted to become effective.

Energy East Corp., et al. (70–9569)

Energy East Corp. (‘‘Energy East’’),

P.O. Box 1196, Stamford, Connecticut

06904–1196, a New York corporation

and a public utility holding company

exempt from registration under section

3(a)(1) of the Act, by order of the

Commission dated February 2, 2000,1

CMP Group, Inc. (‘‘CMP Group’’), 83

Edison Dr., Augusta, Maine 04336, a

Maine corporation and a public utility

holding company exempt from

registration under section 3(a)(1) of the

Act, by order of the Commission dated

February 12, 1999,2 CTG Resources, Inc.

(‘‘CTG Resources’’), 100 Columbus

Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut 06103,

a Connecticut corporation and a public

utility holding company exempt from

registration under section 3(a)(1) by rule

2 under the Act, and Berkshire Energy

Resources (‘‘Berkshire Energy’’), 115

Chesire Road, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

01201, a Massachusetts corporation, and

a public utility holding company

exempt from registration under section

3(a)(2) by rule 2 under the Act

(collectively, ‘‘Applicants’’), have filed

with this Commission an application

under sections 9(a)(2), 10 and 11 under

the Act.

The Applicants seek authorization for

Energy East to acquire all of the issued

and outstanding common stock of CMP

Group, CTG Resources and Berkshire

Energy (‘‘Merger’’). Under the proposed

transactions, CMP Group, CTG

Resources and Berkshire Energy would

become direct subsidiaries of Energy

East and Energy East would register as

a public utility holding company under

section 5 of the Act.3 The Applicants

also seek authorization to operate as a

combination electric and gas utility

holding company. In addition, Energy

East seeks authorization to retain its

interests in its utility and nonutility

activities, businesses and investments

and to acquire and retain the interests

of CMP Group, CTG Resources and

Berkshire Energy’s utility and nonutility

activities, businesses and investments.

Description of the Merger 4

On June 14, 1999, CMP Group, Energy

East and EE Merger Corp. (a wholly

owned subsidiary of Energy East)

entered into the CMP Group Merger

Agreement. The CMP Group Merger

Agreement contemplates that EE Merger

Corp., will merge with and into CMP

Group with CMP Group being the

surviving corporation and becoming a

wholly owned subsidiary of Energy East

(‘‘CMP Group Merger’’). Under the terms

of the CMP Group Merger Agreement,

each outstanding share of CMP Group’s

common stock, $5.00 par value per

share, other than dissenting shares and

any treasury shares or shares owned by

CMP Group, Energy East or any of their

subsidiaries, will be converted into the

right to receive $29.50 in cash. Under

the CMP Group Merger Agreement,

approximately $957 million in cash will

be paid to holders of shares of CMP

Group common stock.

On June 29, 1999, CTG Resources

entered into the CTG Resources Merger

Agreement with Energy East and Oak

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 83 / Friday, April 28, 2000 / Notices 25011

5NYSEG and Southern Connecticut Gas are

wholly owned subsidiaries of Energy East. Maine

Gas Co. is a joint venture between New England Gas

Development Corporation, a wholly owned

subsidiary of CMP Group, and Energy East

Enterprises, (‘‘EE Enterprises’’), a wholly owned

subsidiary of Energy East.

6NYSEG has contracted to sell its 18% interest

in NM2 to AmerGen Energy Corporation

(‘‘AmerGen’’). Approval of that sale is pending

before the New York Public Service Commission

(‘‘NYPSC’’). In December 1999, Rochester Gas &

Electric Corporation (‘‘RG&E’’), an NM2 cotenant,

exercised its right of first refusal in connection with

the sale of plant. The NYPSC began settlement

negotiations in January 2000, seeking modifications

to the proposed terms of the sale, whether to

AmerGen or RG&E. An application for authorization

to transfer associated jurisdictional facilities filed

under section 203 of the Federal Power Act is also

pending before the Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission (‘‘FERC’’).

Merger Co. (‘‘Oak’’), a Connecticut

corporation and a wholly owned

subsidiary of Energy East. CTG

Resources will merge with and into Oak,

with Oak being the surviving

corporation (‘‘CTG Resources Merger’’).

Oak will continue to conduct CTG

Resource’s business under the name

‘‘CTG Resources, Inc.’’ as a direct,

wholly owned subsidiary of Energy

East. Under the terms of the CTG

Resources Merger Agreement, each

outstanding share of CTG Resources

common stock, other than dissenting

shares, will be converted into the right

to receive: (i) $41.00 in cash (‘‘CTG

Resources Cash Consideration’’); (ii) a

number of shares of Energy East

common stock equal to the Exchange

Ratio; or (iii) the right to receive a

combination of cash and shares of

Energy East common stock. The

‘‘Exchange Ratio’’ shall be equal to the

CTG Resources Cash Consideration

divided by either; (i) the Energy East

share price if the Energy East share price

is equal to or less than $30.13 and equal

to or more than $23 .67; (ii) $30.13 if the

energy East share price is greater than

$30.13, in which case the Exchange

Ratio will equal 1.3609; or (iii) $23.67

if the Energy East share price is less

than $23.67, in which case the Exchange

Ratio will equal 1.7320. The Energy East

share price will equal the average of the

closing prices of Energy East common

stock as reported in the Wall Street

Journal, for the 20 trading days

immediately preceding the second

trading day prior to the effective time of

the CTG Resources Merger. The

aggregate number of shares of CTG

Resources’ common stock that is

convertible into cash is limited to 55%

of the total number of shares of CTG

Resources common stock issued and

outstanding as of the effective time of

the CTG Resources Merger.

On November 9, 1999, Berkshire

Energy, Energy East and Mountain

Merger LLC entered into the Berkshire

energy Merger Agreement Mountain

Merger LLC will merge with and into

Berkshire Energy, with Berkshire Energy

being the surviving company and

becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of

Energy East (‘‘Berkshire Energy

Merger’’). Under the terms of the

Berkshire Energy Merger Agreement,

each outstanding Berkshire Energy

common share, without par value, other

than any treasury shares of shares

owned by Berkshire Energy, Energy East

or any of their subsidiaries, will be

converted into the right to receive

$38.00 in cash. Under the Berkshire

Energy Merger Agreement,

approximately $96 million in cash will

be paid to holders of Berkshire Energy

common shares.

As a result of the Merger, the postmerger Energy East System will have

pro forma assets of approximately

$7.275 billion for the twelve month

period ended September 30, 1999 and

combined operating revenues of

approximately $3.9 billion, for the same

period. If approved, the Energy East

System will serve approximately

1,359,000 electric customers in two

states and 579,800 gas customers in four

states. Following completion of the

Merger, Energy East will register with

the Commission, as a holding company,

under section 5 of the Act.

Parties to the Merger

Energy East and Its Subsidiaries

Energy East, through its subsidiaries,

is an energy delivery, products and

services company with operations in

New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts,

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and

New Jersey. Energy East currently owns,

directly or indirectly, three public

utility companies: New York State

Electric & Gas Corporation (‘‘NYSEG’’),

CMP Natural Gas, L.L.C. (‘‘Maine Gas

Co.’’) and The Southern Connecticut

Gas Company (‘‘Southern Connecticut

Gas‘‘).5

NYSEG’s service territory is in the

central, eastern and western parts of

New York. NYSEG’s service territory

has an area approximately 19,900 square

miles and a population of 2,400,000.

The larger cities in which NYSEG serves

both electricity and natural gas

customers are Binghamton, Elmira,

Auburn, Geneva, Ithaca and Lockport,

New York. No customer accounts for

5% or more of either electric or natural

gas revenues. During 1996 through

1998, approximately 84% of NYSEG’s

operating revenue was derived from

electric service with the balance derived

from natural gas service.

As of December 31, 1998, NYSEG’s

electric transmission system consisted

of approximately 4,482 circuit miles of

line. NYSEG’s electric distribution

system consisted of 33,858 pole-miles of

overhead lines and 2,109 miles of

underground lines.

For the twelve months ended

September 30, 1999, Energy East’s

consolidated gross utility revenues

consisted of electric revenues of

approximately $1,725,112,000 (84%)

and gas revenues of approximately

$322,870,000 (16%). Energy East’s

utility operating income and utility net

income available for common stock

were $615,872,000 and $232,383,000,

respectively. Consolidated assets of

Energy East and its subsidiaries as of

September 30, 1999, were

approximately $4.0 billion, consisting of

$2.1 billion in net utility plant and $1.9

billion in other utility and nonutility

assets. For the twelve months ended

September 30, 1999, consolidated

operating revenues, operating income

and net income for Energy East and its

subsidiaries were approximately

$2,348,310,000, $565,003,000, and

$233,044,000 respectively. Connecticut

Energy’s operating revenues totaled

approximately $228,296,000 for the

twelve months ended September 30,

1999. Connecticut Energy’s consolidated

net income for the same period was $17

million.

NYSEG is engaged in the business of

purchasing, transmitting and

distributing electricity and purchasing,

transporting and distributing natural

gas. NYSEG also generates electricity

from its 18% share of the Nine Mile

Point Unit 2 Nuclear Plant (‘‘NM2’’) and

from its hydroelectric stations. NYSEG

has agreed to sell its share of NM2.6

NYSEG serves 826,000 electric

customers and 244,000 natural gas

customers in upstate New York. NYSEG

retains hydroelectric facilities with an

aggregate capacity of 623 MW,

nonutility generation (‘‘NUG’’) contracts

and contracts under which the New

York Power Authority sells power to

NYSEG, as well as an 18% ownership

interest in the NM2.

Maine Gas Co., a gas utility company,

is in the process of constructing a local

natural gas distribution system, on a

nonexclusive basis, in certain areas of

the state or Maine, including among

others, the Bethel, Windham, Augusta,

Waterville and Bangor metropolitan

areas, and the coastal area, including

Brunswick and Bath. Maine Gas Co.

began to provide service to retail

customers in May 1999.

On April 23, 1999, Energy East and

Connecticut Energy Corporation

(‘‘Connecticut Energy’’) entered into an

25012 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 83 / Friday, April 28, 2000 / Notices

7Holding Co. Act Release No. 27128.

8Southern Connecticut Gas is a ‘‘gas utility

company’’ as defined in section 2(a)(4) of the Act. 9Holding Co. Act Release No. 26976.

agreement and plan of merger. On

February 2, 2000 the Commission issued

an order authorizing the merger.7 On

February 8, 2000 Energy East completed

its merger with Connecticut Energy.

Connecticut Energy, an exempt holding

company, is primarily engaged in the

retail distribution of natural gas through

its principal wholly owned subsidiary,

Southern Connecticut Gas.

Southern Connecticut Gas, a public

utility company incorporated under the

laws of Connecticut, is engaged in the

retail distribution of natural gas for

residential, commercial and industrial

users and the transportation of natural

gas for commercial and industrial

users.8 Southern Connecticut Gas serves

approximately 158,000 customers in

Connecticut, primarily in 22 towns

along the southern Connecticut coast

from Westport to Old Saybrook, which

include the urban communities of

Bridgeport in New Haven. Southern

Connecticut Gas is the sole distributor

of natural gas, other than bottled gas, in

its service area.

Connecticut Energy has a number of

direct and indirect nonutility

subsidiaries including CNE Energy

Services Group, In. (‘‘CNE Energy’’),

CNE Development Development

Corporation (‘‘CNE Development’’) and

CNE Venture-Tech, Inc. (‘‘CNE VentureTerch’’). All three of these nonutility

subsidiaries are Connecticut

corporation.

CNE Energy, a wholly owned

subsidiary of Connecticut Energy,

provides an array of energy products

and services to commercial and

industrial customers throughout New

England, both on its own through

participation as a member of various

energy-related limited liability

companies. CNE Energy’s principle

subsidiaries are Energy East Solutions,

LLC; Total Peaking Services, LLC, a

wholly owned subsidiary of CNE

Energy, which operates a 1.2 billion

cubic foot liquefied natural gas open

access storage facility in Milford,

Connecticut, a Conectiv/CND Peaking,

LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CNE

Energy, which provides a firm in-market

supply source to assist marketers and

local gas distribution companies in

meeting the maximum demands of their

customers by offering firm supplies for

peak-shaving and emergency deliveries.

CNE Development, a wholly owned

subsidiary of Connecticut Energy, is a

16.67% equity participant in East Coast

Natural Gas Cooperative, LLC (‘‘East

Coast’’). East Coast purchases and stores

spot gas supplies, provides storage

service utilization services and is

involved in bundled sales.

CNE Venture-Tech, a wholly owned

subsidiary of Connecticut Energy,

invests in ventures that produce or

market technology advanced energyrelated products. CNE Venture-Tech

owns a 7.8884% limited partnership

interest in Nth Power Technologies

Fund I, L.P., which invests in

companies that develop, produce and

market innovative energy-related

products; and CIS Service Bureau, LLC,

a service bureau which provides access

to customer-billing software and other

related services for local distribution

and other utility-type companies

(including Southern Connecticut Gas)

and which is wholly owned by CNE

Venture-Tech.

Energy East also has a number of

direct and indirect nonutility

subsidiaries including EE Enterprises, a

Maine corporation, XENERGY

Enterprises, Inc. (‘‘XENERGY’’), a

Delaware corporation, and Energy East

Management Corporation (‘‘Energy East

Management’’), a Delaware corporation.

EE Enterprises owns natural gas and

propane air distribution companies. It is

a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy

East. It is currently an exempt public

utility holding company under the Act

by order of the Commission dated

February 12, 1999.9 It indirectly holds

public utility assets through its

ownership of a 77% interest in Maine

Gas Co., a gas utility company.

EE Enterprises’ nonutility

subsidiaries: New Hampshire Gas

Corporation, a New Hampshire

corporation, which is a wholly owned

subsidiary of EE Enterprises and is an

energy services company in New

Hampshire specializing in propane air

distribution systems; Southern Vermont

Natural Gas Corporation, a Vermont

corporation, which is a wholly owned

subsidiary of EE Enterprises and is

developing a combined natural gas

supply and distribution project that

includes a extension of a pipeline from

New York to Vermont by Iroquois Gas

Transmission System and the

development of natural gas distribution

systems in Vermont; and Seneca Lake

Storage, Inc., a New York corporation,

which is a wholly subsidiary of EE

Enterprise and proposes to own and

operate a gas storage facility in New

York.

XENERGY is a wholly owned

subsidiary of Energy East. It currently

holds no public utility assets and is

neither a public utility company nor a

holding company under the Act.

XENERGY invests in providers of

energy and telecommunication services.

XENERGY’s principal subsidiaries are

as follows:

XENERGY Inc., a Massachusetts

corporation, is a wholly owned

subsidiary of XENERGY and is an

energy services, information systems

and consulting company that specialties

in energy management, conservation

engineering and demand-side

management.

Energy East Solutions, Inc., a

Delaware corporation, and a wholly

owned subsidiary of XENERGY, markets

electricity and natural gas to end users

and provides wholesale commodities to

retail electric suppliers in the

northeastern United States.

NYSEG Solutions, Inc., a New York

corporation and a wholly owned

subsidiary of Energy East Solutions,

markets electricity and natural gas to

end users and provides wholesale

commodities to retail electric suppliers

in the state of New York.

South Jersey Energy Solutions, LLC, a

Delaware limited liability company, is a

partially owned subsidiary of Energy

East Solutions and was formed to

market retail electricity and energy

management services in the midAtlantic region of the United States.

Energy East Solutions, LLC, a

Delaware limited liability company, is a

partially owned subsidiary of Energy

East Solutions and CNE Energy Services

Group, Inc. and sells natural gas, fuel oil

and other services, and markets a full

range of energy-related planning,

financial, operational and maintenance

services to commercial, industrial and

municipal customers in New England.

Energy East Telecommunications,

Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a wholly

owned subsidiary of XENERGY

Enterprises and was formed to provide

telecommunication services, including

the construction and operation of fiber

optic networks.

Telergy East, LLC, a New York limited

liability company, is a partially owned

subsidiary of Energy East

Telecommunications, Inc., and was

formed to construct, own and operate a

fiber optic network.

Cayuga Energy, Inc., a Delaware

corporation, is a wholly owned

subsidiary of XENERGY Enterprises and

invests in co-generation facilities.

Carthage Energy, LLC, a New York

limited liability company, is a wholly

owned subsidiary of Cayuga and owns

a co-generation facility in upstate New

York. It is an exempt wholesale

generator (‘‘EWG’’), as defined in

section 32 of the Act.

South Glens Falls Energy, LLC, a New

York limited liability company, is a

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 83 / Friday, April 28, 2000 / Notices 25013

10Energy East Management Corporation’s

investments are passive.

11Central Maine Power has sold its hydroelectric,

fossil and biomass generating assets. Central Maine

Power has sold its entitlements to purchase

capacity and energy under the NUG contracts, as

well as its entitlements to energy from its 2.5%

interest in the Millstone 3 nuclear plant, and from

its 4% interest in the Vermont Yankee nuclear

plant, and its entitlement in a firm energy contract

with Hydro Quebec. Further, Central Maine Power

entered into an agreement to sell its ownership

interest in Vermont Yankee, and it has reached an

agreement with Northeast Utilities, the majority

owner of Millstone 3, whereby Northeast Utilities

will include Central Maine Power’s interest in its

planned auction of Millstone 3. The sales of

generating capacity and entitlements to purchase

capacity and energy under NUG contracts, nuclear

interest and the Hydro Quebec contract were

conducted under the requirements of Maine’s

recently enacted electric utility restructuring

legislation and Maine Public Utilities Commission

(‘‘MPUC’’) Rules and Regulations.

12Maine Yankee’s plant was permanently shut

down on August 6, 1997. Central Maine Power also

holds a 9.5% voting interest in Yankee Atomic

Electric Company, which permanently shut down

its plant located in Rowe, Massachusetts, and 6%

voting interest in Connecticut Yankee Atomic

Power Company, which permanently shut down its

plant in Haddam, Connecticut.

13All companies involved in telecommunications

are either exempt telecommunication companies

(‘‘ETC’’), under section 34 of the Act or Applicants

expect to seek ETC status with respect to such

companies.

partially owned subsidy of Cayuga

Energy, Inc. and owns a co-generation

facility in upstate New York. It is an

exempt EWG, as defined in Section 32

of the Act.

XENERGY Inc.’s subsidiaries are as

follows:

XENERGY Canada, Inc., incorporated

in Quebec, Canada, is a wholly owned

subsidiary of XENERGY, Inc. and

provides software services related to a

utility client management system.

XENERGY International, a Delaware

corporation, is a wholly owned

subsidiary of XENERGY, Inc. and is an

energy services, information systems

and consulting company that specializes

in energy management, conservation

engineering and demand-side

management in the United Kingdom

and Spain.

KENETECH Energy Management, Inc.

(‘‘KENETECH’’), a Massachusetts

corporation, is a wholly owned

subsidiary of XENERGY, Inc. and is an

energy services company specializing in

energy management.

KENETECH Energy Management

International, Inc. (‘‘KENETECH

International’’), a Delaware corporation,

is a wholly owned subsidiary of

KENETECH and is an energy services

company specializing in energy

management.

KENETECH Energy Management

Limited, a limited company formed in

Ontario, Canada, is a wholly owned

subsidiary of KENETECH International

and is an energy services company

specializing in energy management.

KEM 1991, Inc. (‘‘KEM 1991’’), a

Delaware corporation, is a wholly

owned subsidiary of KENETECH and is

an energy services company specializing

in energy management.

KEM partners 1991, L.P., a Delaware

limited partnership, is an energy

services company specializing in energy

management. All of its interests are

owned by KENETECH and KEM 1991.

Other current direct nonutility

subsidiaries of Energy East are: Energy

East Management Corporation, a

Delaware corporation that invests the

proceeds of the 1999 sale of Energy

East’s coal-fired generation assets;10

Oak, formed solely for the purpose of

consummating the proposed merger

with CTG Resources and which, upon

consummation of such merger, will

change its name to, and operate under,

the name of ‘‘CTG Resources, Inc.’’; and

EE Merger Corp., a Maine corporation,

formed solely for the purpose of

consummating the proposed merger

with CMP Group.

CMP Group and Its Subsidiaries

CMP Group is a holding company by

virtue of owning, directly or indirectly,

the voting securities of Central Main

Power, Maine Electric Power Company,

Inc. (‘‘MEPCo’’), NORVARCO and

Maine Gas Co., all public utility

companies as defined in the Act.

CMP Group’s principal utility

subsidiary, Central Maine Power, is

primarily engaged in transmitting and

distributing electricity generated by

others to retail customers in Maine.11

Central Maine Power is the largest

electric utility in Maine and serves

approximately 538,000 customers in its

11,000 square-mile service area in

southern and central Maine. Central

Maine Power had approximately $972

million in consolidated electric

operating revenues in the twelve month

period ended September 30, 1999.

As of December 31, 1999, Central

Maine Power’s delivery system

consisted of 2,288 miles of overhead

transmission lines, 19,754 pole-miles of

distribution lines and 155 miles of

network underground and submarine

cable.

For the twelve months ended

September 30, 1999, CMP Group’s

operating revenue on a consolidated

basis was approximately $1,006,000,000

of which approximately $972,000,000

was derived from electric operations,

and $33,715,000 from other operations.

Consolidated assets of CMP Group and

its subsidiaries at September 30, 1999

were approximately $807,596,000 in net

electric utility property, plant and

equipment, and approximately

$1,338,584,000 in other corporate assets.

Central Maine Power currently has

two utility subsidiaries, each of which

is organized and operates exclusively in

Maine: MEPCo and NORVARCO.

MEPCo owns and operates a 345kV

transmission interconnection between

the Maine-New Brunswick, Canada

international border at Orient, Maine.

Central Maine Power owns a 78.3%

voting interest in MEPCo, with the

remaining interests owned by two other

Maine utilities. NORVARCO holds a

50% general partnership interest in

Chester SVC Partnership, a general

partnership which owns a static var

compensator in Chester, Maine, adjacent

to MEPCo’s transmission

interconnection.

Central Maine Power owns a 38%

voting interest in Maine Yankee Atomic

Power Company, which owns the Maine

Yankee nuclear electric generating plant

in Wiscasset, Maine.12

CMP group’s nonutility subsidiaries

are as follows.13

CNEX (formerly called CMP

International Consultants), provides

consulting, planning, training, project

management, and information and

research services to foreign and

domestic utilities and government

agencies in various aspects of utility

operations and utility support services.

MaineConn Services (‘‘MaineCom’’),

develops fiber-optic data service for

bulk carriers and provides other

telecommunications services, including

point to point connections, private

networking, consulting, private and

voice and data transport, carrier

services, and long-haul transport.

MaineCom holds direct or indirect

voting interests in various entities that

are in the business of developing a fiberoptics network in the northeast. It is

subject to regulation by the MPUC, with

respect to making available a fiber

optics cable for public use in Maine.

Northeast Optic Network (‘‘NEON’’)

develops, constructs, owns and operates

a fiber optic telecommunications system

in New York and New England. New

England Business Trust, a wholly

owned subsidiary of MaineCom owns

37.9% of NEON’s common stock.

TeleSmart provides, for utility

companies, collections and related

accounts receivable management

services and has a division which

collects charged-off accounts. TeleSmart

is currently in the process of being

dissolved. Applicants anticipate this

25014 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 83 / Friday, April 28, 2000 / Notices

14See section 2(a)(6) of the Natural Gas Act, 15

U.S.C. 717(a)(6).

process will be completed by May 1,

2000.

Central Securities Corporation owns

and leases office and service facilities in

Central Maine Power’s service territory

for the conduct of Central Maine

Power’s business. Central Maine Power

owns all of the outstanding common

stock of Central Securities Corporation.

Cumberland Securities Corporation

owns and leases office and service

facilities in Central Maine Power’s

service territory for the conduct of

Central Maine Power’s business. Central

Maine Power owns all of the

outstanding common stock of

Cumberland Securities Corporation.

The Union Water-Power Company

(‘‘Union Water’’), a wholly owned

subsidiary of CMP Group, provides

utility construction and support services

(On Target division), energy efficiency

performance contracting and energy use

and management services (Combined

Energies division), and utility-related

real estate development services,

(UnionLand Services). Union Water’s

Maine HomeCrafters division, which

was in the business of brokering and

financing pre-fabricated housing has

been sold.

CTG Resources and Its Subsidiaries

CTG Resources is an exempt public

utility holding company that owns all of

the common stock of Connecticut

Natural Gas Corporation (‘‘CNGC’’), a

public utility that operates as a

regulated local natural gas distribution

company. CNGC distributes gas to

approximately 146,000 customers in 22

Connecticut communities, principally

in the Hartford-New Britain area and

Greenwich. CNGC’s gas distribution

business is subject to regulation by the

Connecticut Department of Public

Utility Control as to franchises, rates,

standards of service, issuance of

securities, safety practices and certain

other matters.

For the twelve months ended

September 30, 1999, CTG Resources’

operating revenues on a consolidated

basis were approximately $286,749,000,

of which approximately $262,060,000

were derived from gas operations and

$24,689,000 were from other operations.

Consolidated assets of CTG Resources

and its subsidiaries at September 30,

1999 were approximately $297,957,000

in gas utility property, plant and

equipment, and approximately

$168,304,000 in other corporate assets.

CTG Resources’ nonutility

subsidiaries include:

CNG Realty Corp., owns the Operating

and Administrative Center located on a

seven-acre site in downtown Hartford,

Connecticut. The Energy Network, Inc.

(‘‘TEN’’) which, through its wholly

owned subsidiary, The Hartford Steam

Company, provides district heating and

cooling services to a number of large

buildings in Hartford, Connecticut.

TEN Transmission Company, a

wholly owned subsidiary of TEN, owns

a 4.87% interest in Iroquois Gas

Transmission System Limited

Partnership, which operates a natural

gas pipeline transporting Canadian

natural gas into New York,

Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Downtown Cogeneration Associates

Limited Partnership, TEN’s partially

owned subsidiary, owns and operates a

cogeneration facility in Hartford,

Connecticut.

ENI Gas Services, Inc., and TEN

Services, Inc., both wholly owned

subsidiaries of TEN, together own 100%

of KBC Energy Services, a partnership.

TEN’s other unregulated operating

divisions offer energy equipment

rentals, property rentals and financing

services and own a 3,000 square foot

building in Hartford, Connecticut.

Berkshire Energy and Its Subsidiaries

Berkshire Energy owns The Berkshire

Gas Company (‘‘Berkshire Gas’’), a

public utility company as defined by the

Act. Berkshire Gas operates as a natural

gas public utility distribution company.

Berkshire Gas sells and distributes

natural gas to approximately 34,000

retail customers in 19 communities in

western Massachusetts. Berkshire Gas

operates a natural gas distribution

system comprising 694 miles of natural

gas distribution mains. Berkshire Gas is

subject to regulation by the

Massachusetts Department of

Telecommunications and Energy.

Berkshire Gas is a ‘‘natural gas

company’’ 14 with respect to certain

sales for resale of natural gas. Berkshire

Gas has secured a ‘‘blanket certificate’’

for these transactions from the FERC.

For the twelve months ended

September 30, 1999, Berkshire Energy’s

operating revenues on a consolidated

basis were approximately $49,283,000,

of which approximately $45,453,000

were derived from natural gas operation.

Consolidated assets of Berkshire Energy

and its subsidiaries as of September 30,

1999 were approximately $77,457,000

in natural gas utility property, plant and

equipment, and approximately

$31,453,000 in other corporate assets.

The nonutility subsidiaries of

Berkshire Energy are Berkshire Propane,

Inc. (‘‘Berkshire Propane’’) and

Berkshire Service Solutions, Inc.

(formerly Berkshire Energy Marketing,

Inc.) (‘‘Service Solutions’’). Berkshire

Propane is a retail propane company

providing service to more than 6,000

customers in 100 communities across a

5,000 square mile area in western

Massachusetts, eastern New York, and

southern Vermont. Service Solutions

provides one-stop natural gas services to

commercial and industrial customers.

Service Solutions entered into a

strategic alliance with Energy East

Solutions, LLC.

The Applicants contend that the

combination of NYSEG’s electric system

and CMP Group’s electric operations

will result in a single, integrated electric

utility system (the ‘‘new Energy East

Electric System’’). The Applicants

further contend that the combination of

Energy East’s current gas system

(NYSEG’s gas operations, Connecticut

Energy and Maine Gas Co.) with the gas

operations of CMP Group, CTG

Resources and Berkshire will result in a

single, integrated gas utility system (the

‘‘new Energy East Gas System’’). The

companies request the Commission

authorize the mergers and find that the

new Energy East Electric System is the

primary integrated public utility system

and the new Energy East Gas System is

a permissible additional system.

For the Commission by the Division of

Investment Management, under delegated

authority.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–10566 Filed 4–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Data Collection Available for Public

Comments and Recommendations

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the Small Business

Administration’s intentions to request

approval on a new, and/or currently

approved information collection.

DATES: Submit comments on or before

June 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments

regarding whether this information

collection is necessary for the proper

performance of the function of the

agency, whether the burden estimate is

accurate, and if there are ways to

minimize the estimated burden and

enhance the quality of the collection, to

Bettie Baca, Counselor to the

Administrator/Public Liaison, Office of

Advisory Council, Small Business