The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) said Monday that natural gas producers have paid most of about $206 million owed under the drilling impact fee enacted under Act 13, surging past the $180 million the state thought it would take in this year from its new omnibus Marcellus Shale law.

According to the PUC, the 58 producers affected by the fee have collectively paid $197.6 million, or about 96% of the total amount due, $205.9 million. Most of the producers, 35 in all, have paid their entire obligation, while six have paid a portion of their fees and 17 haven’t paid anything yet.

Chesapeake Appalachia LLC paid the largest impact fee bill at $30.8 million, followed by Talisman Energy USA Inc. at $26.4 million and Range Resources Appalachia LLC at $23.7 million. All three have paid their impact fee bills in full.

Only two other producers had impact fees of more than $10 million: SWEPI LP, a Royal Dutch Shell plc subsidiary, at $15.3 million; and Anadarko E&P Co. LP at $15.0 million.

(To read the full story go to www.shaledaily.com).

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