CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

Colleague Larry Rulison reports this surprising development from this morning’s state Public Service Commission meeting:

Two commissioners were absent from the special session at which a vote was expected on Iberdrola S.A.’s $4.5 billion acquisition of Energy East Corp.

“We will not be making a final determination today,” PSC Chairman Garry Brown said.

Instead, Sept. 3 has been set as a tentative date for the vote, said agency spokesman James Denn.

No reason was given for the absence of commissioners Robert Curry and Cheryl Buley.

Discussion of the merger was scheduled to proceed, however. “Today we will go through the final discussions,” Brown said.

Rulison reported a capacity crowd at the session, held in Albany. He said those attending appeared shocked by the development; Iberdrola representatives looked frustrated.

(Click to read entire report)