The new carbon world will have a considerable affect on the outlook for the utilities sector. Electric utilities will be facing significant new challenges as they adjust to the green initiatives from the new administration and Congress. About 56% of the electricity generated in the United States is from coal, a significant contributor to carbon ...

Dayton, Ohio-based diversified energy utility DPL Inc. (DPL) and its subsidiary Dayton Power and Light Company were upgraded by Moody's Investors Service. On last Friday, June 26, Moody's upgraded the parent's senior unsecured debt rating to Baa1 from Baa2 and the subsidiary's senior secured debt rating to A1 from A2. The upside came from an approval for ESP settlement establishing rates till 2012 from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). The ESP was originally filed in October 2008 as required by Ohio Amended Substitute Senate Bill No.221 (SB 221). Under the terms of the settlement, DP&L will freeze base distribution and generation rates through 2012, with limited exceptions including changes in regulatory and tax laws,[More...]

Several large companies announced dividend increases over the past week. One of the most notable bullish calls came from the telecom sectors as AT&T (T) showed confidence in its business model by increasing its dividend payment to shareholders for the twenty fifth consecutive years. Despite the tough macroeconomic conditions AT&T (T) is still committed to raising its quarterly dividend. The board announced a 2.5% increase of the quarterly payment to to $0.41/share. The stock currently yields 5.70%. One thing that still concerns me with AT&T however is the high current dividend payout ratio. You could check my analysis of AT&T from this link. BCE, the Canadian telecom company whose privatization agreement failed[More...]

Several large companies announced dividend increases over the past week. One of the most notable bullish calls came from the telecom sectors as AT&T (T) showed confidence in its business model by increasing its dividend payment to shareholders for the twenty fifth consecutive years. Despite the tough macroeconomic conditions AT&T (T) ...

Richard Band, editor of Richard Band’s Profitable Investing, finds a dividend-paying utility he thinks is a good place to put money now.