Boise, ID-based Intermountain Gas Co. wants to expand its transmission capacity in three places as part of a new five-year gas procurement plan before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. The regulators are giving stakeholders and the general public through Nov. 16 to comment on Intermountain’s proposals.

With the utility’s residential and commercial customers increasing by 5% in the first quarter of its fiscal 2004, Intermountain estimates that it needs to meet 4% annual growth over the next five years among its 242,000 customers in 74 communities in southern Idaho.

“Without an increase in capacity, the company says it will fall short of meeting its delivery needs during peak use by about winter of 2007,” according to a PUC spokesperson, who noted that Intermountain is planning to use a number of options to increase gas supplies, pipeline capacities and storage capabilities.

Intermountain wants to increase its supplies and capacity at three “laterals” where it operates transmission pipelines tied to The Williams Cos.’ interstate supply system. The Idaho gas utility operates 9,500 miles of transmission, distribution and service pipelines, and more than 350 miles of those pipelines were added in fiscal 2003.

The PUC will use a modified regulatory procedure that allows written comments from the general public in lieu of public hearings. Comments can be submitted by Nov. 16 via e-mail (www.puc.state.id.us), fax (208-334-3762), or mail (P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074).

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