Plugging In

Published: January 4, 2008

The Women's International Network of Utility Professionals recently announced its officers for 2008.

The group's chairwoman is Cynthia Stewart of American Electric Power. Andrea Chancellor of Public Service Co. of Oklahoma is the group's vice-chairwoman.

The group's treasurer is Holly McCune, also of AEP, and its secretary is Megan Washbourne of Tulsa-based ONEOK.

The group's international board representative is Jackie Clouse of PSO.

The officers will serve through the end of 2008, organization officials say. The Woman's International Network of Utility Professionals was formed in 1999 with a mission to serve women professionals at all utilities by providing opportunities for professional development, networking and mentoring and to build awareness of industry issues, group officials said.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. and the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts will honor Oklahomans who devote their efforts to protecting and conserving natural resources, association officials said.

The Chesapeake Outstanding Conservation District Award will be presented to the best overall conservation program in Oklahoma.

The programs will be judged on their efforts to work with landowners to protect their natural resources, and for their educational and youth programs and other community outreach activities.

The winning district will be recognized with a trophy, a sign, $2,500 and special recognition at the Governor's Conservation Award ceremony in the state Capitol's Blue Room during the upcoming legislative session.

Chesapeake is participating in the award for the fourth time in as many years, they added.

HOUSTON — ConocoPhillips, the third-largest U.S. oil company, said Thursday its worldwide production of hydrocarbons likely rose in the final three months of 2007 from the third quarter, and oil and natural gas prices were higher too.

But the company said domestic refining margins fell significantly in most regions during the October-December period versus the third quarter, and also were off slightly from the fourth quarter of 2006.

Refining margins, which hurt many oil companies' earnings in the third quarter, are the difference between what refiners pay for oil and what they are paid for the products they make from it.

The company provided the details in an overview of market and operating conditions for the recently completed fourth quarter. ConocoPhillips is scheduled to report fourth-quarter and full-year results Jan. 23.

Its share price rose $1.08 to $88.97 in trading Thursday.

The stock has traded in a 52-week range of $61.59 to $90.84.

ConocoPhillips said it expects to incur a negative $250 million after-tax impact from new production tax legislation enacted in Alaska in the fourth quarter. It said about $100 million of that impact is retroactive to prior periods in 2006 and 2007.

But the company said fourth-quarter results should get a $350 million benefit due in part to a tax-rate reduction in Canada.

From Staff and Wire Reports

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