Southern California Gas Co. said Thursday it will hold an auction March 20 for 12 Bcf of underground natural gas storage services, including 80 MMcf/d of firm injection and 400 MMcf/d of annual firm withdrawal service. The storage terms will be for a one-year duration, beginning April 1.

SoCal currently has 118 Bcf at four active underground storage facilities. Part of its working capacity was created last year when 14 Bcf of base gas was transferred to working gas in its Aliso Canyon and La Goleta storage facilities.

The Sempra Energy utility said that bidders may seek a portion of the capacity, “but must maintain the same ratios for inventory, injection and withdrawal as the total available capacity.” Bidders must qualify by meeting credit requirements and by executing agreements under which the storage services are sold, SoCal said.

SoCalGas said that authorized bidders need to submit a form listing their qualifications. Those forms should be sent to Dale Borhaug, product advisor, via fax at (213) 244-8645, or via e-mail to: storage@semprautilities.com. The form can also be mailed to Borhaug at Southern California Gas Co. 555 W. Fifth St. Los Angeles, CA 90013-1011.

More information and forms for the bidder qualifications can be obtained on the utility’s web site: www.socalgas.com.

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