Utilities

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) shareholders today overwhelmingly approved the proposed merger with Progress Energy. More than 90 percent of the Duke Energy shares voted supported the proposal. Duke Energy shareholders specifically approved a 1-for-3 reverse stock split as well as the issuance of Duke...

Southern Union Company (NYSE: SUG) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved construction of the $235 million Red Bluff Project, a 200 MMcf/d natural gas processing plant and associated gathering, compression and treating facilities, through its midstream segment, Southern Union Gas...

Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today announced it will temporarily increase the size of its board of directors from 10 to 11 members with the election of Steven R. Mills effective Oct. 26, 2011. The change in board size is for a limited period that will be used to facilitate an effective succession...

Citi Investment Research is out with a research report on Westar Energy (NYSE: WR) and it has a Buy rating and a $29 price target on shares. In a note to clients, Citi Investment Research writes, "We believe the La Cygne situation has been an overhang on the shares since the 4Q10 earnings release...

Shares of Calpine (NYSE: CPN) are higher on the session by 0.15%, currently trading at $13.29. The stock has been moving largely lower over the past two months and is currently trading below the 50-day moving average. Options traders are focusing on puts today. A short while ago the January 2012...

Williams Capital Research has published a research report on SCANA Corporation (NYSE: SCG). In the report, Williams wrote, "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued the Final Safety Evaluation Report (FSER) for SCE&G's V.C. Summer Units 2 & 3 last week on the 18th. The NRC has now...

Wunderlich has published a research report on Great Plains Energy Corporation (NYSE: GXP) In the report, Wunderlich wrote, "The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) approved Great Plains Energy's (GXP) La Cygne environmental predetermination request on Friday, although regulators disallowed the use...

Analysts at Auriga upgraded Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ) from “hold” to “buy.” HPQ's shares closed at $23.60 on Friday. Hewlett-Packard's PEG ratio is 0.70. Analysts at Credit Suisse upgraded SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM) from “neutral” to “outperform.” SLM's shares closed at $12.73 on Friday...

Citi is out with its report today on Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG), upgrading PEG to Buy from Hold. In its report, Citi writes, "We are upgrading due to 1) EPAdriven power supply tightening should boost energy and capacity prices in PJM, 2) PSE&G's balance sheet is sufficiently...

Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC) announced today that it has acquired APS Energy Services Company, Inc. from Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE: PNW). APS Energy Services, headquartered in Tempe, AZ, is a full-service company that provides integrated energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions...

Citigroup has upgraded Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG) from Hold to Buy and has raised the price target from $31 to $37.

The board of directors of Delta Natural Gas Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: DGAS) at a meeting held August 19, 2011, authorized a quarterly stock dividend of thirty-five cents ($.35) per share to be paid September 15, 2011 to all common shareholders of record as of September 1, 2011.

The Unit 2 reactor at PPL's Susquehanna nuclear power plant in northeastern Pennsylvania shut down automatically at 10:46 a.m. Friday (8/19). The unit was operating at full power at the time. The shutdown occurred during scheduled, routine equipment surveillance; the cause is under investigation....

Shares of Entergy (NYSE: ETR) are lower on the session by 0.53%, currently trading at $62.15. The stock has been moving largely lower over the past three months and is currently trading below the 50-day moving average. Options traders are focusing on puts today. A short while ago the March 2012 $...

Citi is out with its report today on MDU Resources Group (NYSE: MDU), maintaining Hold. In its report, Citi writes, "We rate MDU Hold / Medium Risk (2M). MDU's regulated business' should remain fairly stable and provide dividend protection. Higher oil prices & expected crude oil production in...