Cha Ching.

On the road today, so short and sweet... courtesy of the AP:

Energy companies pay $84M in settlements over Calif. power crisis
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—Two power companies will pay $84 million to settle claims against them stemming from the 2000-2001 California energy crisis, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said Thursday.

PacifiCorp, a unit of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., will pay $27.9 million to resolve charges that it manipulated the California and Pacific Northwest power markets in 2000 and 2001. MidAmerican Energy Holdings is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

In the second case, a unit of Houston-based El Paso Corp. will pay $56 million to resolve all outstanding claims against it.

The California Attorney General's office and Public Utilities Commission, as well as other state agencies, have agreed to the settlements, FERC said.

"These settlements put us another step closer to finally resolving the lingering issues from the Western energy crisis and returning money to consumers," Commission Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher said. "Settlements, not prolonged and costly litigation, have given consumers more than $6 billion in refunds."

Shares of El Paso rose 22 cents to $16.88 in midday trading Thursday.