Grids

The board of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) may address the issue of coordinating U.S. natural gas and electricity grids at its next national meeting, according to the head of the natural gas committee.

The board of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) is slated to consider a resolution addressing the issue of coordinating U.S. natural gas and electricity grids at its next national meeting.

Power grids in California, Nevada and Arizona last week fended off soaring temperatures and a resulting flood of demand for electricity. Power providers in Nevada and Arizona were reporting new records for system peaks, while the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) declared restricted maintenance days for power facilities and asked Californians to reduce energy usage.

Gas and winter power demand records fell throughout the eastern United States during the week ending Jan. 24, according to multiple local gas distribution companies, power utilities, electric grid operators and pipeline companies. Williams subsidiary Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco), which serves the entire East Coast region, said last week that it set a new peak gas transportation record on seven out of 10 days from Jan. 15-24.

Power grid operators across the Northeast, Midwest, Mid Atlantic and Ontario sent out power shortage warnings and calls for conservation again last Wednesday, as the early summer heat continued to bake the regions with 90-100 degree temperatures and high humidity, driving up power usage and prices.

With transmission grids struggling with each new summer heatwave, an aspiring California-based company pushing off-gridmicroturbines, Capstone Turbine Corp., launched a successfulinitial public offering (IPO) Thursday, raising $130 million, andclosing the first day of trading, June 29, at almost $48/share,three times the initial asking price of $16. Friday’s close was$45.06 after hitting a high for the day of $49-plus.

With transmission grids struggling with each new summer heatwave, an aspiring California-based company pushing off-gridmicroturbines, Capstone Turbine Corp., launched a successfulinitial public offering (IPO) Thursday, raising $130 million, andclosing the first day of trading, June 29, at almost $48/share,three times the initial asking price of $16. Friday’s close was$45.06 after hitting a high for the day of $49-plus.