Showing Signs of Weaknesss

摘要

The utility financial rankings were described as "quiet" in 2005, "very good" in 2006 and "remarkable" in 2007. From these descriptions, it's clear that utilities' financial performance trended upward for several years in a row. The 2008 financial rankings, however, show a different trend. Jean Reaves Rollins, who has provided the financial data for this report for the past few years, said the 2008 rankings indicate the industry is "showing signs of weakness."rnWhen interviewed for this report last year, the country was already experiencing the recession's impact, and Rollins predicted that 2008 would see a turn down. She did not think a year ago, however, that it would hit utilities as hard as it did.rn"The financial services meltdown was just becoming apparent (last September), and its impact on the general economy took most by surprise," Rollins said.