Industrial consumption of natural gas increased 3.3% annually inthe eight years between 1985 and 1992, according to an in-depthanalysis of industrial energy demand by the Gas Research Institute.The increase, which was nearly twice the rate of competing fuels,”was largely due to a 28% increase in gas used for industrialheating and power, including a significant expansion ofcogeneration systems in the paper, chemical and petroleumindustries,” GRI said. The report, “The Implications of the Changesin Industrial Energy Demand 1985-1992 (GRI-99/0030), also analyzesindustrial energy consumption data nationally, regionally and byindustry. “The report looks in detail at changes in product mix,processes and energy use during the eight-year period for the sixmajor energy-intensive industries – food, paper chemical, petroleumrefining, primary metals, and stone, clay and glass, and the twomost rapidly growing, but less energy-intensive industries, rubberand metal durables,” said Marie Lihn, GRI project manager. “Thedata can provide real insight into potential future energyconsumption in each of these key industrial sectors.” To ordercopies of the report, call Kelly Murray at 703-526-7832 (fax 7808)or e-mail at baseline@GRI.org. The report is $125 for GRI members,$175 for non-members, plus shipping and taxes.

The three-member Texas Railroad Commission (TRC) agreed to beginnegotiating with an information services firm to implement anElectronic Document Management System (EDMS) for the agency, whichregulates oil and gas activity in the state. Eventually, industrydata gathered by the TRC will be accessible via the Internet. Theproject will provide an interactive web-based catalog ofexploration and production data. “When it comes to this project,improved access to valuable technical data is just one benefit,”said TRC Commissioner Charles Matthews. “I believe the entiredecision-making process for the industry is improved when criticalinformation is made more readily available.”

EDMS will enhance the agency’s ability to launch its ElectronicCompliance and Approval Process (ENCAP) project. ECAP is aninitiative that will give Texas producers and operators the abilityto electronically submit and process regulatory compliancedocuments required by the TRC. Commissioner Michael Williams waschosen to oversee the TRC’s regulatory reform efforts, includingimplementation of ECAP and other initiatives to reduce the agency’sreliance on paper forms and documents.

NSTAR will be the name of the new company created when BECEnergy and Commonwealth Energy Systems merge. Final regulatoryapprovals for the merger are expected this summer. The names of theoperating companies Boston Edison, Commonwealth Electric, CambridgeElectric and Commonwealth Gas will not change.

Commonwealth Energy President and CEO Russell Wright, who willbe president and COO of NSTAR said, “It will be the largestcombination electric and gas company in New England.”

The NSTAR companies will serve about 1.3 million customers in aservice territory that includes the Greater Boston area, centraland southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod.

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