51.  Duke Power considered merging with an electric company, a few years ago, instead of a natural gas one, Grigg said.

52.  Earlier this month, it formed a joint venture that will make it among the first electric utility companies to challenge Baby Bells for telephone customers.

53.  Earlier this week, the government allowed electric companies to apply substantially higher rate increases to homes than to businesses.

54.  During the race to privatize, they said, several British electric companies had been purchased by US firms.

55.  Early evidence suggests that only a small percentage of household and commercial customers are switching electric companies.

56.  Electric companies across the Northeast struggled again to meet the demands of a populace addicted to air-conditioning.

57.  Electric companies must give customers accurate, understandable bills, reliable service and descriptions of how to terminate service.

58.  Electric companies are marketing electricity in department stores, on television and over the Internet.

59.  Electric companies joined banks in suffering from the prospect of higher interest rates.

60.  Electric companies, meanwhile, can provide natural-gas companies a foothold in new territories and a link to power plants that use its fuel to generate electricity.