The move may help the state's second-largest utility avoid filing for bankruptcy protection but does not address the problem of California's shortage of electricity.

The other major party in the bidding was the New England Electric System of Westborough, Mass., the region's second-largest utility.

And the bankruptcy puts pressure on Southern California Edison, the state's second-largest utility, to follow the same route.

So too, California's second-largest utility, Southern California Edison, today faced news reports that some of its largest creditors are seeking to force it into involuntary bankruptcy.

Kansai Electric Power, the nation's second-largest utility, announced 3,000 job cuts over the next three years.

It is the second-largest utility in Austria.

He has been with the nation's second-largest utility since 1984 and has held the No. 2 post for two years.

GPU Inc., the state's second-largest electric utility, was granted permission yesterday to lease parts of its extensive infrastructure to telephone companies.

The American Electric Power Company, the nation's second-largest electric utility, named presidents yesterday for five operating companies in a major change of management.

California legislators worked late tonight to reach a compromise to aid the nearly bankrupt Southern California Edison, the state's second-largest utility.