The Washington Post reports that pension fund managers representing $1 trillion have petitioned the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to required public companies to disclose the impact of global warming on their business prospects. If the SEC agrees, the change could threaten investors in utility stocks -- which are among the biggest private sources of carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming.

Here's a list of utility stocks which could be most affected:

• American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP). AEP produced 145.4 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2006. In Europe, where legislation already limits carbon dioxide emissions, allowances for a ton of carbon dioxide sell or 20.5 euros, or about $28.50. So if its 2006 carbon dioxide had been emitted in Europe, AEP would have had to pay over $4 billion.
• Dominion Resources (NYSE: D)
• Dynegy (NYSE: DYN)
• Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL)

Coal producer, Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE: BTU) could also be among those companies affected.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse, with a $28 target. The firm expects Dell to augment its existing technology with targeted acquisitions, reduce its cost structure and tweak its distribution philosophy.

• American Technology upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co ADS (NYSE: TSM) to Neutral From Sell.

• Level 3 Communications Inc (NASDAQ: LVLT) was upgraded to Market Perform from Sell at Janco; the firm doesn't recommend being short on the stock which is going into earnings on February 9th.

• Dominion Resources Inc (NYSE: D) was upgraded to Hold from Sell, with an $81 target, at Deutsche Bank.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Piper Jaffray upgraded Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) to Market Perform from Underperform, with a $36 target, to reflect the company's strong revenue growth; however, they still consider up-side limited from here.

• Bank of America upgraded Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) to Buy from Neutral, with a $35 target, as they believe the company's growth outlook is solid and that 2008 consensus could be conservative.

• Following the company's solid Q3 report, Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS) was upgraded by Deutsche Bank to Hold from Sell, with a $50 target, and to Buy from Hold at Needham, with a $60 target.

• Citigroup upgraded Raytheon Co (NYSE: RTN) to Buy from Neutral, with a $60 target, to reflect the company's above-industry growth and low valuation.

• Wachovia upgraded Dominion Resources Inc (NYSE: D) from Market Perform to Outperform. The firm said their estimates have been too conservative.

Dominion Resources Inc. (NYSE: D) is making some big changes. The company wants to unload about 83% of its oil and gas production business. The reserves are in areas such as New Mexico, the Permian Basin in Texas, the Gulf of Mexico and Canada.

Such a deal will carry a heavy price -- the estimate is $15 billion or so. But of course there is a ton of cash in the private equity sector and it looks like Dominion will have no trouble finding buyers.

According to the Wall Street Journal, one group includes firms like Madison Dearborn Partners, Warburg Pincus, First Reserve and Carlyle Group. And it looks like Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS0) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) will also join the party.

Aren't these companies arch enemies?

Yes they are. But big-time deals require teamwork. Besides, Dominion's assets are top-notch and should be a strong source of ongoing cash flow generation as well as tax benefits.

And the interest in Dominion is another sign that private equity thinks that over the new few years energy prices should increase.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.