Newly merged GDF Suez used the occasion of announcing a 14-percent hike in net income to reveal it was buying U.S. energy company FirstLight Power Enterprises Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

GDF Suez said FirstLight's 263.3 Megawatts of installed gas and coal power -- plus renwables -- would help it improve from net income this half year of €3.4 billion.

The result came on revenues in first six months of 2008 of €43.1 billion, up 17 percent year-on-year.

FirstLight, meanwhile will add 15 power-generation plants, mostly hydro and pump-operated, and has a "state-of-the-art natural gas peaking facility under construction". The combined 16 facilities can generate 1,538 MW in just Massachusetts and Connecticut on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.

"FirstLight will complement GDF SUEZ's LNG and gas business in North America and will strengthen the Group's existing power generating assets and retail activities in New England and eastern Canada," a GDF Suez statement said. The company called the northeast U.S. a growing gas market.

Gaz de France and SUEZ completed a merger on 22 July 2008, paving the way for an energy giant, just national oil companies grow in the world.