Only 17 states and the District of Columbia support deregulated electric power markets. And California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and now New York are considering re-regulation. Read More

Water utilities BIW, Middlesex Water and Pennichuck Water exit the Dividend Watch List this month. BIW reported a near doubling in nine-month net income, as the impact of last year’s rate hike in Connecticut is finally being felt. Read More

In the go-go 1990s, Wall Street largely scorned Ed Whitacre’s vision of forging a communications giant from the Baby Bells. No one’s laughing now at his handiwork: Reunited AT&T is America’s leading wireless and wireline company. More important, it’s increasingly profitable. Read More

Dodging taxes alone is never a good reason to buy anything. It’s different, however, when the benefits are attached to a solid business such as Atlantic Power Corp. Read More

Aren’t you glad you own essential service stocks? Despite one of the most volatile, fear-driven markets in memory, shares of top-quality power, gas, water and communications companies are decidedly holding their own. Read More

December is typically a safe investment month, and this year looks to be no different. However, there are several key items I'm looking at over the next couple months in case the market decides to turn. Read More

I’ve been basically long-term bullish on energy since I came into this business in the mid-1980s. And although energy hasn’t always been in a bullish mode during the past 20-plus years, I still see it moving strong as it was in the late 1990s. We’re going to be looking at some very strong values in coming weeks. Read More

Earnings season is winding down. As always, not every company made its numbers. In fact, even in the essential service end of the market, there were some bad misses. Read More

Utility stocks have been fourth quarter winners 32 times since 1969. And with interest rates benign, sector credit risk dropping and earnings on track, most of the group should make it 33 this year. Read More

By 2030, America will consume 40 percent more electricity than it does now. And that conservative projection from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) depends on hefty gains in efficiency. Read More