31.   Two regional utilities will also be upgraded.

32.   Two regional utilities, Cia. Paranaense de Energia and Cia. Energetica de Minas Gerais, are at the center of the investigation.

33.   Welsh Water Plc shares rose to a nine-month high after the regional U.K. utility said it will give preference stock to investors and rebates to customers.

34.   Westar Energy will be a large regional utility serving Wichita and Topeka in Kansas and the Kansas City area.

35.   Wessex Water Plc, a U.K. water utility, said it wants to bid for South West Water Plc, another regional utility.

36.   Welsh Water Plc said it is considering a bid to acquire South Wales Electricity Plc, a regional U.K. utility that shares many of its customers.

37.   British regulators had previously blocked the proposed purchase of two regional electric utilities by big power generators, National Power and PowerGen, saying this could hamper competition.