With the Southeast region of the United States experiencing nearrecord cold temperatures this winter, it’s no wonder SCANA Corp.’ssubsidiary, South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. (SCE&G), andAGL Resources are saying that their customers are demanding recordlevels of energy.

SCE&G customers set a new winter peak demand record on Jan.3, as 4,076 MW of electricity were used over a one-hour periodduring the morning. The new peak record dethrones the old recordof 3,900 MW, which was established the morning of Dec. 20, 2000.

December 2000 set numerous records for South Carolina. The24-hour winter energy use record of 81,133 MW was set on Dec. 20 aswell, and the month was the coldest December on record in Columbia,SC, since 1917. SCE&G’s all-time one-hour peak demand recordand 24-hour demand record are still held by July 21, 2000. On thatday, 4,211 MW of electricity were used in a one hour period and84,006 MW set the 24-hour demand record.

Natural gas usage got into the record books in the state as wellon Jan. 3, said SCE&G and South Carolina Pipeline Corp. Thecompanies said the instantaneous day-rate use of natural gas goinginto the Columbia, SC city-gate reached a record 90 MMcf/d, whilegas going into the Charleston, SC city gate reached a record 78MMcf/d. SCE&G said Columbia’s average instantaneous winter useis normally 60 MMcf/d, and Charleston averages approximately 50MMcf/d.

“The near record cold temperatures in December and early Januaryhave significantly increased demand for both electricity andnatural gas by our customers,” said Neville Lorick, SCE&G’spresident. “While we are being tested to meet this record demand,we are encouraging our customers to exercise conservation measuresto blunt the impact of expected higher energy bills.”

AGL Resources spokesman Nick Gold said that Atlanta Gas Light’sdistribution system in Georgia is moving a remarkable amount of gasas well. “For us to get hit so cold for such a long period of timeis really unusual. In fact, I think it is the coldest in decades.This past Saturday (Dec. 30) was our third highest send out of gasgoing through our system in company history. Everyone is under agreat demand right now, which is really pushing our system to thelimit.”

Gold added that the levels of gas being moved this early in theseason is unheard of. “December of 2000 versus December of 1999, weare sending out 30% more volume through our system then we were ayear before.”

Williams also reported that its Transco mainline is moving anabove-average amount of gas for the period. “Mainlinetransportation utilization is in the high 90% range,” said ChrisStockton, spokesman for Transco. He said that while it has beencolder than normal for this time of year, the system has yet to setany peak-day records. He attributed this to spiking natural gasprices pushing some consumers to alternative fuel sources.

The SCANA subsidiaries assured that they were capable of meetingthe demand of all of their firm customers, but said they wereforced to curtail gas supplies to about 250 of their interruptibleindustrial customers. SCE&G and South Carolina Pipeline saidthey hope that forecasted warmer temperatures toward the end of theweek will reduce natural gas demand to the point that they will beable to turn interruptible customers back on.

Alex Steis

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