Pacific Gas & Electric declared a systemwide Stage 3 high-inventory OFO for Wednesday. The order carries penalties of $5/Dth for violating a zero tolerance on positive daily imbalances.

Transco said physical storage inventories on its system are approaching maximum levels and “have reduced the operational flexibility normally available to manage shipper transportation and OBA [Operational Balancing Agreement] imbalances.” Also, forecasts of continued moderate temperatures in the market area are expected to lower customer demand, the pipeline continued. Thus it listed four actions that took effect with Tuesday’s gas day: (1) No approval of any requests for excess storage injections under any firm storage services; (2) the allowable pool schedule tolerance was reduced to 1%; (3) no parking of gas on its system and no loan paybacks are allowed until further notice; and (4) no due-pipeline imbalance payback nominations are being accepted. Transco urged customers to resolve existing due-shipper imbalances and “actively balance ongoing supplies with realistic market expectations.” It added that if the foregoing steps do not restore “an acceptable level of operational flexibility,” Transco may be required to issue an Imbalance Makeup Notice as early as Wednesday.

As part of its ongoing inventory testing at Clay Basin Gas Storage Reservoir, Questar will shut in the facility Wednesday through Oct. 19 with no nominations accepted. Normal Clay Basin service is expected to return on the Oct. 20 gas day.

Due to excess linepack, Westcoast changed its daily imbalance tolerance range to zero pack and 20% draft.

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