The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has scheduled a public workshop for early in February to discuss concerns that have been raised by a proposal from Intermountain Gas Co. to curtail customers with gas-fired snow-melting equipment in the midst of peak-demand periods (see Daily GPI, Dec. 15, 2009). Intermountain told the PUC that snow-melting equipment under driveways and rooftops uses an inordinate amount of gas compared to more conventional uses, and thus the utility wants authority to involuntarily curtail the snow-melting gas use in the midst of peak demand times. Existing customers now can volunteer to be interrupted. In exchange for the interruptible status, new and volunteering existing snow-melt customers would be given a lower rate.
Idaho
Articles from Idaho
Intermountain Gas Seeks to Freeze Snow-Melt Customers
Intermountain Gas Co. has asked the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to temporarily interrupt service to its customers using natural gas-fired snow-melting equipment during times when natural gas demand is peaking. The utility did not specify how many of its current 305,000 retail gas utility customers potentially could be affected.
Industry Brief
Idaho Gov. C.L. Otter signed oil and gas billionaire T. Boone Pickens’ pledge to support use of North American natural gas as the nation’s transportation fuel and the development of renewable energy. “Establishing energy security for this state and this country should be a top priority,” Otter said. “While there are some aspects of the Pickens plan I still have concerns about, I am signing this pledge to lend my voice to T. Boone Pickens and others calling for a comprehensive energy plan to end our reliance on foreign oil.” Pickens has been traveling the nation lobbying for his plan to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil by 30% during the next 10 years. More information on the Pickens Plan, which claims to have drawn more than 1.3 million supporters nationally, is at www.pickensplan.com.
Idaho PUC Puts Intermountain Gas Surcharge in Effect
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has authorized Boise, ID-based Intermountain Gas to raise its surcharge covering its gas costs for the first time in two years. Effective Wednesday, Intermountain’s overall revenues increased $54.3 million.
Kempthorne Sworn in as Interior Secretary
Dirk Kempthorne, former governor of Idaho, was officially sworn in Wednesday as the secretary of the Department of Interior in a ceremony at the White House. He succeeds former Interior Secretary Gale Norton who departed in March.
Interior Nominee Urged Not to Take Sides in Eastern Gulf Dispute
Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, warned Interior secretary nominee Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne Thursday not to side with one coastal state against another in the ongoing, heated dispute over whether to allow greater oil and natural gas leasing in the gas-prone eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Nelson, Kempthorne Fail to Reach Agreement on Eastern Gulf Leasing
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Interior secretary nominee Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne failed to reach any agreement on leasing in the eastern Gulf of Mexico during a nearly one-hour meeting Wednesday, a Nelson spokesman said.
Avista Projects Demand Growth, Touts ‘Decoupling’
Avista Corp.’s natural gas utilities in Washington, Oregon and Idaho recently submitted a 2006 integrated resource plan to state regulators that touts “decoupling” as a means to spur efficiency measures while ensuring cost recovery.
Questar Rides Increased Production, Prices to Strong 2Q Earnings
Led by an 18% increase in nonregulated gas, oil and natural gas liquids production, a 14% rise in realized natural gas prices, and an 18% increase in nonregulated gas gathering volumes, Questar Corp. posted 2Q2004 net income of $42.6 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, compared with $20.3 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the comparable 2003 period.
Prices Succumb to Weak Support, Fall About a Dime
As if finally recognizing that they’ve been coasting higher recently in the face of fairly weak seasonal demand, prices yielded to bearish fundamentals Tuesday in posting declines ranging from 1-2 cents at a couple of western points to 15 cents or so. Most losses were around a dime. Transwestern-Permian was an aberration with a small gain.
