The move is essentially part of the utility deregulationscenario. "Energy deregulation has significantly reduced the sizeof our regulated utility operations and prior sponsorship of oureconomic development initiatives," says Tim Comerford, president ofPSEG Sitefinders, a licensed brokerage. "Moving these activitiesinto the unregulated arena will allow us to generate revenue tosubsidize our no-fee programs."

For openers, Sitefinders has hooked up with Allied Realty ofFairfield, NJ in a formal alliance that will find space and sign upcompanies locating or relocating within the state. It's the firstof what are expected to be a number of alliances that geared to putting PSE&G on the Garden State's commercial brokerage map. Intouting the alliance, Allied partner Ron Kraft specifically cited"PSE&G's stature."

In the past PSE&G, historically only an indirect real estateplayer, would have handed off a hot corporate prospect to a localreal estate broker. Now, however, it will share commissions withits burgeoning network of brokers, which could amount to hundredsof thousands of dollars a year, according to observers. The companyis currently seeking proposals from brokers to become part of thenetwork.