Opponents Join Against Enron Merger

Electricity customers, environmentalists and utility competitors have formed an alliance to oppose a planned $3.2 billion merger between Houston-based Enron Corp. and Portland General Corp.

In a statement submitted Monday to the Oregon Public Utility Commission, the eight-member group challenged Enron to show how the acquisition of the Oregon power company would be good for the public.

State law requires the merger be in the “public interest,” leaving the PUC to decide what that means.

“The proposed acquisition should be denied unless Enron demonstrates that the merger will provide significant benefits to PGE’s customers and agrees to conditions that will protect them from future harm,” the alliance said in its statement.