Parade of Utility Mergers

The Seattle Times:

A parade of electric and gas companies have marched to the auction block this year, as the utility industry undergoes yet another wave of consolidation.

Sparked by the belief that bigger is better, fueled with vast new pools of investment cash and fanned by the repeal of a Depression-era law restricting who can own and operate utility companies, a dozen energy producers and distributors have announced deals so far this year, compared with 10 for all of 2005.