Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) said Thursday that it tentatively approved a settlement with Equitable Gas Co. concerning a 2003 natural gas explosion and fire that damaged part of an apartment building in Pittsburgh, injuring six people. The utility company agreed to provide additional emergency response training to its employees, set aside $55,000 to train other smaller utility companies in emergency response and pay a $5,000 fine.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) said Thursday that it tentatively approved a settlement with Equitable Gas Co. concerning a 2003 natural gas explosion and fire that damaged part of an apartment building in Pittsburgh, injuring six people. The utility company agreed to provide additional emergency response training to its employees, set aside $55,000 to train other smaller utility companies in emergency response and pay a $5,000 fine.

FERC Chairman Pat Wood last Thursday fielded several questions about whether he expects to be picked by President Bush for a second term when his current term as chairman and commissioner expires in June 2005.

FERC Chairman Pat Wood on Thursday fielded several questions about whether he expects to be picked by President Bush for a second term when his current term as chairman and commissioner expires in June 2005.

FERC Chairman Pat Wood on Thursday fielded several questions about whether he expects to be picked by President Bush for a second term when his current term as chairman and commissioner expires in June 2005.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has teamed up with the Pennsylvania State University to research improvements in underground gas storage technology. Under an agreement, a consortium will be created by Penn State and DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory Strategic Center for Natural Gas that will operate for four-and-a-half years with funding of about $3 million.

Looking to create a better wheel, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said it has teamed with the Pennsylvania State University to establish and operate a consortium on underground gas storage technology.

The Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) Friday filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) for an overall decrease in rates of $32 million/year from the level of rates that went into effect March 1.

Granting the company’s mid-August petition, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved Philadelphia Gas Works’ proposal to reduce rates for its natural gas customers. The reduction will result in a $171 million cut in rates for its more than 520,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers (see Daily GPI, Aug. 20).