This transaction is significant because it completes the divestiture of assets ... that did not align with our strong domestic utility operations. The divestitures leave us with an improved balance sheet and a strategic focus on our core utility business.

I think we have a PR issue, in that people do not think the utility industry has great significant technical challenges. College graduates look at us and see poles and wires, and don't realize there are things like automation, computer control and sophisticated asset management systems out there.

I'm not surprised to see private equity make a big move like this -- private equity has significant assets that need to be invested.

Budget Billing is the easiest, simplest way for customers to better handle their utility bills. They're not going to save money, but it does give them a level bill.

Not many assets there,

Customers have started to develop an affinity for these devices, not only for the utility, but also because they represent a level of status, of personalization and of choice.