The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that for years, Algonquin Power has been popular with investors, especially given its consistently rising dividend. The Globe's David Berman writes that the last eight to 10 months or so have been a difficult period for the company. Rising interest rates and changes to U.S. tax credits weighed on profits in last year's third quarter and walloped the share price, raising questions about the company's growth outlook, bloated debt levels and investment-grade credit rating. In January, Algonquin slashed its dividend by 40 per cent. In April, it terminated a deal to acquire Kentucky Power, once seen as a key to U.S. expansion. The biggest decision, by far, is still coming: Algonquin announced in May that it may sell its renewable power business and become a stand-alone regulated utility. Selling the clean-energy business -- which accounts for about 20 per cent of Algonquin's asset base -- would follow similar sales earlier this year by Duke Energy and American Electric Power, putting additional pressure on Algonquin to follow suit. The decision on whether or not to pursue a sale will be announced in August when the company reports its second-quarter financial results.