Decrease

The staff of Washington’s Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) has recommended big rate decreases for Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) natural gas and electric operations. The recommendations are in contrast to the utility’s more modest proposed decrease of $22 million (minus 2.4%) for its gas customers and an $87 million (4.1%) rate hike for electricity customers. UTC staff recommended a cut of $54 million (minus 6.6%) for gas users and a decrease of $46 million (minus 2.2%) on the electric side.

Methane (CH4) emissions from natural gas systems in the United States totaled 127.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent (COe) in 2012, a 2.4% decrease compared with 130.3 million metric tons in 2011 and a 16.9% decrease compared with 1990 emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Methane (CH4) emissions from natural gas systems in the United States totaled 127.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent (COe) in 2012, a 2.4% decrease compared with 130.3 million metric tons in 2011 and a 16.9% decrease compared with 1990 emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

After recent years of rate decreases, Idaho regulators approved purchased gas adjustment (PGA) rate increases on Wednesday for the state’s two major natural gas utility distribution companies: Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities and Boise, ID-based Intermountain Gas Co. The rate changes are effective Tuesday (Oct. 1).

Bucking the trend of rising energy prices for manufacturers, a surge in domestic natural gas production from shale formations resulted in a 36% decrease in the average gas price paid by manufacturers between 2006 and 2010, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

A number of natural gas utilities across the United States have asked state regulators for a decrease in their rates as the winter heating season approaches, citing an oversupply of gas from shale gas development.

Low natural gas prices didn’t deter U.S. operators from boosting upstream spending in 2012, according to data compiled by Ernst & Young.

As oil production continues its steep climb in the Eagle Ford Shale, the South Texas play is on track to surpass the Bakken, the shale oil production leader, in the near term, an RBC Capital Markets analyst said Wednesday.

Since the latter half of last year, Swift Energy Co. has been directing Eagle Ford drilling at a narrower section of the lower Eagle Ford with more precision than previous drilling, and it’s been paying off, said CEO Terry Swift.