Colorado Interstate Gas said it is holding a binding open season to test market interest in another Raton Basin pipeline expansion. Last year, the company placed a $61 million Raton expansion into service, adding 104,600 Dth/d of new firm transportation capacity through about 102 miles of various diameter pipeline and 1,770 horsepower of new compression. The 2005 expansion increased CIG’s capacity in the area to more than 380,000 Dth/d, providing five producers — Pioneer Natural Resources, El Paso Energy Raton LLC, Red River Ranch Holding LLC, Apple Tree Holdings LLC and XTO Energy — greater access to Midcontinent and Midwest markets. CIG is seeking new commitments to expand its Raton system and pipeline east of the Campo area through pipeline looping, extensions and additional compression. The proposed receipt points are along CIG’s Picketwire or Cuchara Laterals with delivery points east of Campo Junction into Midcontinent pipelines in southwestern Kansas and the Oklahoma panhandle. For details call Tom Dobson (719) 520-4606 or Craig Coombs (719) 520-4387.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) adopted minimum natural gas service standards this week to ensure that Ohio’s natural gas utilities provide customers with fair and reliable service. The standards apply to all PUCO regulated investor-owned distribution companies. “Minimum service standards for Ohio’s electric and telephone industries have been in place for several years,” said PUCO Chairman Alan R. Schriber. “We recognized the need for similar rules for the natural gas industry and are pleased to extend these protections to ratepayers.” The standards address a wide range of issues, including installation, metering, billing, and customer service, providing customers with the following safeguards and benefits: Timelines and quality on installations; meter readings upon the initiation and termination of service; meter readings at least once every 12 months and up to two additional meter readings; procedures for crediting customer bills; requirements for handling customer disputes and payment arrangements; written customer notifications about complaint procedures, customer rights and responsibilities, meter readings and gas choice programs; and company plans for handling cases of customer fraud including meter theft and tampering.

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