According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, consumers were happier with their power company in the first quarter of 2008 than airlines, low-rent hotels and most fast-food restaurants. Read More

Dominion Energy Trust will pay a slightly higher distribution this quarter because of a steep jump in natural gas prices. However, royalty production from its lands fell 7.2 percent, and reserve life is now just six to seven years. Read More

Size is strength in profitable, competitive communications. And no US player is better positioned than longtime Growth Portfolio Core Holding Verizon Communications. Read More

The same opportunity rarely knocks more than once, but it hasn’t had to for global power producer AES Corp. After rapidly growing from inception in October 1981, the company nearly imploded in 2002 as its multinational empire grew unwieldy and challenged a mountain of debt. Read More

Never confuse transformational technology with a winning stock. Since Utility Forecaster’s inception, dozens of new technologies have transformed the way essential services are delivered, from fiber optics and advanced meters to the iPhone and low-cost wind power. Read More

Dominion Resources is the latest utility to announce a major plan for negawatt investment. Negawatts are basically saved megawatts; that’s investment made to enhance conservation and save power companies from having to build new megawatt capacity. One negawatt equals one saved megawatt. Read More

Income investing is, at its core, a long-term enterprise. For one thing, you’ve got to stick around long enough to collect your distributions. Read More

Oil prices of $130-plus per barrel are an unprecedented windfall for producers. Moreover, with global supplies tightening and demand still surging—particularly in rapidly developing Asia—they’re likely to go higher still in the months ahead. Read More

Debate over the future of oil prices and the US economy again grabbed the headlines this week. Verizon Communications’ acquisition of rural wireless rival Alltel Corp, however, is a far more significant development for investors. Read More

Most Utility Forecaster Portfolio picks are on higher ground this month. That’s the payoff from another quarter of solid earnings in the face of the slowing US economy and tight credit conditions. Read More