Friday, March 26, 1999
TRISTATE BUSINESS SUMMARY
Cinergy seeks piece of Czech power firm
Cinergy Corp. has submitted a non-binding bid to purchase a stake in Vychodoceska Energetika, a regional power distribution company in the Czech Republic.
The bid permits the Cincinnati-based utility holding company to negotiate a purchase with a number of municipalities that own about a third of the distribution company, a spokesman said.
Cinergy owns three power plants in the Czech Republic after recently acquiring Setuza Energetika AS, a power plant operator, from cooking oil producer Setuza AS.
Only 8% of CG&E's gas customers switch
Fewer than one in 10 of Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co.'s approximately 400,000 natural gas customers are choosing alternative suppliers under its customer choice program, according to new figures from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Through mid-March, the PUCO said 32,717 CG&E customers, or about 8 percent of its total customer base, were participating in the program. Statewide, PUCO said, about 436,000 customers are participating, a 16 percent increase in the last two months, and about one out of every four eligible.
CG&E and PUCO officials have anticipated lower participation here than in other parts of Ohio, because CG&E's gas rates are lower.
For example, in Columbia Gas of Ohio's service area, 371,234 customers are participating, about 29 percent of those eligible.
PUCO said CG&E's gas choice customers included 4,733 commercial and 27,984 residential customers.
Trenton telephone customers getting break
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved flat-rate calling between Butler County's Trenton exchange, served by Ameritech, and Cincinnati Bell's Cincinnati area exchange.
The decision is subject to Ameritech submitting and securing approval of a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission. The PUCO ordered Ameritech to seek the waiver within 30 days.
In November, the commission approved reduced rates between Trenton and Dayton and the elimination of toll charges between Trenton and Hamilton.
At a Trenton public hearing in January, 30 witnesses favored elimination of toll charges to Cincinnati, and no one spoke against the plan. The Trenton exchange has about 3,670 customers.
Scripps to name HQ building for itself
The downtown building that is home to the headquarters of the E.W. Scripps Co. will be renamed the Scripps Center.
The company has been a tenant since 1992 in what has been known as the 312 Walnut Building.
The Scripps Center signs will be installed this weekend, the building's operators said Thursday.
E.W. Scripps Co. occupies more than 73,000 square feet of the 35-story building, which has 538,000 square feet of office space.
It is one of the most prominent office buildings in Cincinnati's downtown skyline.
Scripps publishes the Cincinnati Post and operates WCPO-TV, an ABC network-affiliated television station. Under its lease agreement, Scripps was given the opportunity to rename the building.
Duke Realty Investments Inc. leases the building, and Mayerson Co. provides management services.
Ohio Casualty shifts workers to Fairfield
Duramed rides Cenestin rocket
Kings Island faces hiring challenge
Cincom joins forces with German firm
Electric deregulation explored
Kroll-O'Gara growth, acquisitions add profits
TRISTATE BUSINESS SUMMARY
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INDUSTRY NOTES: MANUFACTURING
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
