Mirant

[south louisiana]

Intro to article in today's LA Times with interesting implications for MIR long term:

WASHINGTON — For nearly 70 years, a Depression-era law has sharply limited big, multi-state utility companies from expanding or diversifying. But chances that the arcane law will remain on the books may have vanished with the lights that went out Aug. 14, the day of the Northeast blackout.

The Bush administration and industry officials contend that repealing the law would spur investment in power plants and modernize the electric grid. The law's repeal is expected to be a key part of the first overhaul of energy policy in a decade.