Wwp Merger Hearing To Open June 4

Administrative Law Judge Jacob Leventhal will open hearings into the proposed Washington Water Power Co. merger with Sierra Pacific Resources on June 4 of next year.

Leventhal, a judge for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, set the schedule for the hearing and pre-hearing procedures Wednesday in Washington, D.C., where he will preside over the case.

His ruling will be reviewed by the full commission, which last week surprised the companies by failing to approve their merger.

The Spokane- and Reno-based utilities had filed their case with FERC in August 1994. All six state regulatory commissions with jurisdiction had already consented, although the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission had put its approval on hold.

The Washington commission has been given permission to participate in the federal review. Kootenai Electric Cooperative Inc., Northern Lights Inc., Clearwater Power Co., and Idaho CountyLight and Power Cooperative Assoc. Inc. also sought intervenor status Wednesday. , DataTimes