With changing industry standards and a new firm-access rights option on its in-state transmission pipeline system, Southern California Gas Co. has completed the successful launch of its new web-based system to manage more than a trillion cubic feet of natural gas distributed annually by it and its sister Sempra Energy utility, San Diego Gas and Electric Co. Nomination information is shared via the Internet with interconnecting interstate pipelines for their deliveries to the two distribution utilities.

Called “Envoy,” the system allows users to submit gas nominations and confirmation, trade gas imbalances, access various gas usage information electronic metering systems at large customer sites, and obtain real-time information on gas rates, operational notices and storage availability.

“We use Envoy daily to manage customers’ deliveries to their facilities and to their storage accounts, said Pat Davidson, SoCal’s gas scheduling manager, in a recent report to Sempra utility employees on the new system. “The Envoy system also allows us to maximize capacity, while at the same time, balance the system by analyzing customer requests for deliveries and customer demand and storage injection capability.”

Three years in the making, SoCalGas officials told utility employees the response so far has been positive from customers. The Web-based system is designed to be “user-friendly,” allowing end-use customers, local distribution companies, interstate pipelines and gas suppliers to be on the same page when it comes to moving supplies to natural gas-dependent Southern California, where the two utilities depend on interstate supplies for more than 90% of the gas they deliver.

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