1.   A weakening yen also hurt utilities, whose imports of raw material will cost more.

2.   A weakening yen hurt utilities, whose massive imports of raw material will cost more.

3.   A weakening yen also hurt utilities, whose massive imports of raw material will cost more.

4.   Higher rates hurt banks by increasing the cost of doing business, and hurt utilities, which tend to carry heavy debt loads.

5.   If Northeast Utilities sells Public Service of New Hampshire, the short-term gain could be used to pay current obligations, but may hurt the utility later.

6.   Rising rates hurt utilities because the companies have large debts and their dividend yields become less attractive as interest rates rise.

7.   Utilities be hurt by higher costs as they are forced to pay the same tariffs as competitors on transmission lines the utilities own and operate.