Judge denies restraining order in SME case
SME asked the court to prevent the utility arm of the city of Great Falls from delaying payments for power or ending contracts with its customers that could cause SME to lose its customer base.
The Great Falls Tribune reports District Judge Kenneth Neill denied the restraining order, but ordered a June 1 hearing on the same issues. Neill said the city has continued to pay SME and the contracts at issue won't expire until June 30.
The city filed a lawsuit in March seeking to end its relationship with SME and the return of a $792,000 deposit.
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Hydro One deal to buy Avista receives U.S. antitrust clearance
TORONTO - Hydro One Ltd. says it has received antitrust clearance in the United States for its deal to acquire U.S. energy company Avista Corp.
The Ontario-based utility says the 30-day waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act expired Thursday night.
Hydro One announced the friendly deal to acquire Avista last summer in an agreement that valued the company at $6.7 billion.
The deal still requires several other approvals, including those from utility commissions in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska.
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The U.S. Federal Communications Commission must also sign off on the transaction and clearance is required by the Committee on Foreign Investment…