Foreign Owned Utilities

EPA, TAWWA, public-i.org ^

[Calpernia]

Did you know the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) allows foreign countries to come into United States and buy our utility companies? Under these agreements, foreign companies now have rights and privileges to come into other countries and buy private utilities such as electric companies, water districts and other commodities that are necessary to a community. Under these new trade agreements we now can have global commercial negotiations and foreign companies can get United States Small Business Administration loans with which to make the purchases.

American Water Works Company (AWW -- now German owned) is the largest and most geographically diverse, investor owned utility enterprise in the United States. The company provides water, wastewater and other resource management services to more than 10 million people in 23 states. Peoria, Illinois and Charleston. West Virginia are customers of AWW and pay some of the highest water bills in the country. This past September RWE AG, a company from Essen, Germany paid $4.6 billion in cash and assumed a $3 billion debt to purchase American Water Works. RWE AG is a global conglomerate of 848 wholly owned companies , 300 of which are in Germany and 548 in other nations. Their goal is to expand in the United States by expanding in the utility related services of electricity, gas, water and wastewater and waste recycling. AWW, which is now German owned has been awarded a 50-year contract by the US Department of Defense for the privatization of utilities of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The contract will result in the acquisition, operation and maintenance of the water, wastewater and gas utilities at the Army base in Fayetteville, N.C.

[Calpernia]

Bracewell & Giuliani seem to be involved with many of these utilities and their transition to foreign ownership. Click here for the live links.

Lobbying Firm

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

Lobbying 1998-2004: $23,637,500 

Lobbying 2004: $4,180,500 

What these numbers mean

	Annual Lobbying
	$1.54	$1.98	$2.84	$4.43		$3.77	$4.90	$4.18
	1998	1999	2000	2001		2002	2003	2004

Figures based on Senate Office of Public Records filings last updated June 2005

	Companies and organizations that have hired this firm ranked by amount spent	2003	2004	1998-2004
1)	North American Electric Reliability Council		$580,000	$600,000	$1,886,000
2)	Enron Corp.	-	-	$1,645,000
3)	Lyondell Chemical Company	$228,000	$100,000	$1,106,000
4)	American Chemistry Council		$70,000	Less than $10,000	$1,062,000
5)	Valero Energy Corp.	$180,000	$170,000	$880,000
6)	Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.	$220,000	$150,000	$870,000
7)	National Cable and Telecommunications Association and state affiliates		$140,000	$120,000	$860,000
8)	Integrated Waste Services Association	$185,000	$130,000	$805,000
9)	Fbi Agents Association	$200,000	$172,000	$802,000
10)	Council of Industrial Boiler Owners		$346,000	$40,000	$710,000
11)	San Antonio Water System	$168,000	$180,000	$670,000
12)	Gas Processors Association	$145,000	$96,000	$661,000
13)	Physician Insurers Association of America		-	-	$655,000
14)	Citizens Financial Group Inc.	$164,000	$164,000	$640,000
15)	Texas Medical Center	$310,000	$320,000	$630,000
16)	Port of Houston Authority		$120,000	$120,000	$540,000
17)	Southdown, Inc	-	-	$530,000
18)	National Organization for Social Security Claimants Representative	$110,000	-	$510,000
19)	City of El Paso		$205,000	$139,500	$474,500
20)	Shell Oil Co.	$60,000	$60,000	$428,000
21)	Envirocare of Utah Inc	-	-	$381,000
22)	Raytheon Co.		-	-	$360,000
23)	Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority	$96,000	$186,000	$282,000
24)	Quintana Minerals	$100,000	Less than $10,000	$271,000
25)	Oxygenated Fuels Association		$254,000	-	$254,000
26)	Texas Windstorm Insurance Association	$54,000	-	$250,000
27)	City of Carrollton	-	$247,500	$247,500
28)	Recording Industry Association of America		Less than $10,000	-	$240,000
29)	Great Plains Energy Corp.	$120,000	Less than $10,000	$240,000
30)	AEI Drawback Services	-	-	$220,000
31)	Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc.		$130,000	$90,000	$220,000
32)	HMSHost	-	-	$210,000
33)	Independent Refiners Coalition	-	-	$191,000
34)	Pacific Capital Group Inc.		-	-	$185,000
35)	U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co	-	-	$184,000
36)	Memorial Hermann Healthcare System	-	$180,000	$180,000
37)	Syngenta Corp.		$60,000	$120,000	$180,000
38)	Thai Frozen Food Association	-	$160,000	$160,000
39)	Cement Kiln Recycling Coalition	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	$155,000
40)	Houston Community College System		$151,500	Less than $10,000	$151,500
41)	MDU Resources Group	$110,000	$40,000	$150,000
42)	Solex Environmental Systems	-	-	$140,000
43)	American Bus Association		Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	$130,000
44)	Baldwin Piano & Organ Co	-	-		$130,000
45)	Temple-Inland Inc.	$62,500	-	$125,000
46)		Southern Co.	-	$120,000	$120,000
47)	OmegaTech Interest Holders	$20,000	$100,000		$120,000
48)	Autonomy Inc	$60,000	-	$120,000
49)		Advanced Materials Research Center	-	$115,500	$115,500
50)	Agfa-Gevaert N.V.	$75,000	-		$112,500
51)	Otter Creek Energy Project	$90,000	$12,000	$102,000
52)		Wheat Gluten	-	-	$100,000
53)	American Forest & Paper Association	-		-	$90,000
54)	Bumble Bee Seafoods	-	Less than $10,000	$70,000
55)	Browning-Ferris Industries	-	-	$70,000
56)	Sigmableyzer		-	-	$60,000
57)	National Petrochemical & Refiners Association	-	$60,000		$60,000
58)	Sysco Corp.	-	$60,000	$60,000
59)		Air Conditioning Contractors of America	-	-	$60,000
60)	BP p.l.c. (BP Amoco)	-	-		$60,000
61)	Aspen Technology	$55,000	-	$55,000
62)		British Airways	-	-	$55,000
63)	Briggs & Stratton Corporation	$30,000		$20,000	$50,000
64)	Equis Corp	-	$48,000	$48,000
65)	Guaranty Federal Bank, F.S.B.	Less than $10,000	-	$45,000
66)	Global Crossing Ltd.		-	-	$40,000
67)	Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities	-	-		$40,000
68)	Africa Resources Trust	-	-	$40,000
69)		American Registry for Internet Numbers	-	-	$40,000
70)	Sterling Chemicals Inc.	-	-		$40,000
71)	The Scooter Store, Ltd.	-	$40,000	$40,000
72)		Wellman Inc	-	-	$35,000
73)	Northern Beef Industries Inc	-	-		$35,000
74)	Poseidon Resources Corp	-	-	$30,000
75)		Premcor	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	$28,000
76)	Continental Cement Co.	-	-		$20,000
77)	International Utility Efficiency Partnership	-	$20,000	$20,000
78)		Sam Kane Meat Processors	-	-	$20,000
79)	Summit County Board of Commissioners	-	-		$20,000
80)	Stimson Lumber Inc	-	-	$15,000
81)		Edison Electric Institute	-	-	Less than $10,000
82)	Dallas Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000		Less than $10,000
83)	Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
84)		Centex Corp.	Less than $10,000	-	Less than $10,000
85)	Cendant Corp.	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000		Less than $10,000
86)	Brazos Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
87)		Bellville Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
88)	Argyll Scientific	-	-		Less than $10,000
89)	Anson Bancshares	-	-	Less than $10,000
90)		ALLTEL Corp.	-	-	Less than $10,000
91)	Aldine Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000		Less than $10,000
92)	Gary Williams Energy Corp	-	-	Less than $10,000
93)		Galveston Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
94)	Galena Park Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000		Less than $10,000
95)	Friendswood Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
96)		Fort Bend Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
97)	First State Bank in Rio Vista	-	-		Less than $10,000
98)	First National Bank in Durant	-	-	Less than $10,000
99)		First Grayson Bancshares	-	-	Less than $10,000
100)	Hurst - Euless - Bedford Indep. School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000		Less than $10,000
101)	Huntsman Corp.	-	-	Less than $10,000
102)		Humble Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
103)	Huffman Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000		Less than $10,000
104)	Houston Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
105)		Lake Worth Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
106)	La Porte Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000		Less than $10,000
107)	Kinder Morgan Energy	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
108)		Katy Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
109)	Stewart Enterprises, Inc	-	-		Less than $10,000
110)	Sheldon Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
111)		Sealy Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
112)	Roxton Corp	-	-		Less than $10,000
113)	PROWASTE	-	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
114)		Placid Refining Co	-	-	Less than $10,000
115)	Pioneer Co	-	-		Less than $10,000
116)	Pearland Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
117)		Pasadena Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
118)	North East Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000		Less than $10,000
119)	MINORITY MINERAL-RIGHT OWNERS IN THE VALLES CALDERA NATL RESERVE	-	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
120)		Metroplex North Bancshares	-	-	Less than $10,000
121)	Union Texas Petroleum Energy Corp	-	-		Less than $10,000
122)	Welcon	-	-	Less than $10,000
123)		Wallerindependent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
124)	Texas Petrochemicals Lp	-	-		Less than $10,000
125)	Spring Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
126)		Spring Branch Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000
127)	Texas City Independent School District	Less than $10,000	Less than $10,000		Less than $10,000
128)	Tejas Gas Corp	-	-	-
129)		Mepc American Properties	-	-	-
130)	Louisiana Land & Exploration	-		-	-
131)	Higman-Barge Lines	-	-	-

[Calpernia]

RE: 127) Texas City Independent School District

http://www.biometrics.org/bc2004/Presentations/Conference/2%20Tuesday%20September%2021/Tue_Ballroom%20B/1%20DOJ%20Session/Miles_DOJ_update.pdf
National Institute of Justice

Teacher-Parent Authorization Security System (T-PASS): Evaluating the Use of Iris Recognition Technology in Schools
Plumstead, NJ Schools

• Eleven, Single-Eye LG Electronics IrisAccess 2200 Iris Recognition Cameras Evaluated
• 6 cameras within closed areas in 3 schools
• 5 cameras were located outdoors with fabricated protective closures
• 9,412 transactions occurred in 3 months.
• 78% (7300 transactions) were successful
• Unsuccessful attempts mostly due to camera capture errors (16%) and access attempts by unknown users (5.8%)
• Included an Evaluation of User Acceptance and Development of Training Materials
• Issues remaining include:
• Tailgating (accepted users holding door open for others)
• Ability to Capture Iris Outdoors (lighting)

(more at the presentation)

http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/TSPRP/wharton/Wharton_ISD.pdf
Wharton Independent School District
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
AND SAFETY/SECURITY OPERATIONS. The purpose of any school system is to educate children ... WISD uses the Bracewell & Giuliani law firm for legal. services. ...

http://www.humble.k12.tx.us/BoardPackets/packet06-11-14.pdf
Consent Template 3.doc
Adobe Acrobat
Management (random drug testing vendor) and one attorney from Bracewell and. Giuliani. The panelists presented information regarding the legal issues ...

[Calpernia]

Re: 11) San Antonio Water

is a company of American Water Works Company (AWW — now German owned)

see: http://www.tawwa.org
Texas AWWA

[Calpernia]

tidbits ping

[LantzALot]

The “What these numbers mean” link leads me to a deadend.

[Calpernia]

The first line of post one:

Bracewell & Giuliani seem to be involved with many of these utilities and their transition to foreign ownership. Click here for the live links.

Regardless, the intention of my thread is to show the relationship. I am not worried about the numbers. But that link will take you there.

[LantzALot]

No I’ve got it. Thanks.

[Calpernia]

:)

[AuntB]

Bump!!!

My electric company is owned by the British!

[dakine]

Can they take them home?

[NRA2BFree]

Why does this not surprise me. That bunch of traitors in DC have been selling bridges, highways and ports to foreign interests. They have successfully destroyed America. They are just hammering the last nails into our coffin! Once amnesty is granted and the borders erased by this President, we will have lost the Republic.

[Calpernia]

My water company is owned by Germany.

AWWA provides water affiliate program style.

[Calpernia]

Pardon?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Foreigners from friendly countries owning some of our water companies does not bother me. SBA loans (subsidized, no doubt) and ownership by people from unfriendly or suspect countries (e.g., China) does.

Don’t subsidize loans to foreigners with my tax dollars, and don’t lend to the Black Melanine Riders of the PRC! Woooo-hooooo!

[Calpernia]

What is stopping Germany or Spain from selling their shares to a suspect country though?

[wolfcreek]

Is it possible for a foreign company to buy a cooperative such as Pedernales Electric Coop?

[Calpernia]

It seems that way. There are electric companies listed and freeper AuntB looked hers up. Her electric company is owned by the British.

I can’t understand the benefits to us though.

[Calpernia]

It looks like Pedernales Electric Coop resells for American Electric Power. The Coop buys wholesale electricity and resells it to their customers.

American Electric Power seems to be American owned; but they did partner with Guatemala in 2006 to raise money for Hurricane damage.

[wolfcreek]

Whew! Guess I’m a lucky one!

We’re Pedernales Electric, a private electric utility owned by the consumers we serve. Providing electricity to more than 200,000 members throughout 8,100 square miles, we are the largest electric cooperative in the United States.

[Calpernia]

Keep an eye on it though!

bump!