Providence

National Grid has abandoned plans for the Fields Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Providence, RI, and has dropped its appeal of a FERC decision not to approve the project to convert an existing LNG peak shaving plant there for LNG importation, the company said Tuesday.

Houston-based Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. is expandingits natural gas business, setting up a downstream office inProvidence, RI to market to industrial and commercial customers.

Rhode Island’s Providence Energy Corp. shareholders votedoverwhelmingly last week to approve a proposed merger with Austin’sSouthern Union Co. First announced last November, the proposedmerger is on track for regulatory approval by late this summer.ProvEnergy shareholders would be paid $42.50 per share with themerger.

Under the “Energize RI” program, Providence Gas Co. (ProvGas)has been awarded $2.45 million by the Rhode Island Public UtilitiesCommission (PUC) for losses attributable to external forces theutility experienced last winter. The original request was grantedby the the PUC’s Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (theDivision) in March but it was subject to PUC approval.

Under the “Energize RI” program, Providence Gas Co. (ProvGas)was awarded $2.45 million Wednesday by the Rhode Island PublicUtilities Commission (PUC) for losses attributable to externalforces the utility experienced last winter. The original requestwas granted by the the PUC’s Division of Public Utilities andCarriers (the Division) in March but it was subject to PUCapproval.

Providence Energy subsidiary ProvGas is providing remote systemcontrol and monitoring services for the Portland Natural GasTransmission System (PNGTS) – a new 272-mile pipeline that runsfrom Quebec to Massachusetts. ProvGas began providing 24-hourremote electronic monitoring of the pipeline from its Allens Avenuefacility shortly after the pipeline began operating on March 10.ProvGas will monitor the pipeline using a sophisticated SystemsControl and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to watch the portion ofthe pipeline that runs from Pittsburgh, NH, on the Quebec border,to Westbrook, ME. The line can transport 178 MMcf/d of gas.

Stung by a hearing officer’s $323,000 fine for affiliatefavoritism and tariff violations, Providence Gas Co. (ProvGas) saidlast week the “unusual proceedings” went “substantially beyond thescope of issues originally” raised by an Aurora Natural Gascomplaint. The Rhode Island utility filed a request forreconsideration, rehearing and a stay of the decision, saying thelargest portion of the fine is a free ticket to marketers forwinter storage and peaking services they already received.