As part of a study to determine whether viable competition exists in the Texas natural gas pipeline industry, the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) is hosting seven workshops statewide to gather input from gas producers, gas gatherers, gas processors and gas pipeline operators.

Workshop comments will be focused solely on issues to be determined by the study. Consumer issues regarding high winter gas bills will not be addressed at these workshops.

The workshops will be held in the following cities:Amarillo, Noon-3:30 p.m., Nov. 15 at the Amarillo Public Library; San Antonio, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 17 at the University of Texas at San Antonio’s downtown campus; Midland, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 21 at the University of Texas Permian Basin, Auditorium for the Center for Energy and Economic Diversification; Abilene, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Hardin Simmons University, Johnson Building; Houston, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Hyatt Regency, 1200 Louisiana; Dallas,1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Dec. 7, at the Southern Methodist University’s Cox Executive School of Business, James M.Collins Center; Kilgore, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 8, at the East Texas Oil Museum, U.S. Highway 259 at Ross.

The feedback received at these workshops will be used to develop recommendations for the RRC’s natural gas pipeline competition study. The study was required by a legislative mandate in Rider 16 of the RRC’s appropriation bill and must be submitted to the Legislative Budget Board and Governor by Nov. 1, 2006. To view a copy of the RRC-approved natural gas competition study outline; go to:www.rrc.state.state.tx.us under “What’s New at the RRC?”

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