Regulators

Arizona regulators opened a prehearing conference on a 4% general rate increase request by UNS Gas Inc., the UniSource Energy Corp. natural gas distribution utility in parts of Arizona. The Arizona Corporation Commission has scheduled evidentiary hearings to run through Feb. 17. UNS is asking for an annual revenue increase of $5.6 million, increasing its rate base to $254 million, effective May 1. Tucson, AZ-based UniSource Energy is the holding company for UniSource Energy Services, which provides gas and electric services to about 237,000 customers, along with Tucson Electric Power, which provides electricity to more than 400,000 customers in southern Arizona.

Idaho regulators approved a 4.5% rate decrease for Intermountain Gas Co., underscoring the continuing decline in wholesale natural gas prices. It represents the fifth consecutive rate decrease for the MDU Resources Group gas-only utility. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) cited various reasons for the continuing slide in retail rates, including abundant domestic supplies, pipeline capacity, record quantities of stored gas and the absence of natural disasters interrupting supply deliveries. Intermountain’s rates for supply and transportation of gas dropped from 45.35 cents/therm to 41.8 cents/therm.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) told California regulators in a report last week that some of its natural gas pipeline segments had been operating at pressures above those authorized for their locations and it is taking steps to correct the situation.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) told California regulators in a report filed Tuesday that some of its natural gas pipeline segments had been operating at pressures above those authorized for their locations. As part of the larger revamping of its entire gas operations, PG&E said it has taken a number of steps to correct the violations of its own and industry standards.

Citing “prolific availability” of U.S. shale gas, Intermountain Gas Co. has filed with Idaho regulators for its fifth consecutive rate reduction tied to wholesale costs of gas.

Pennsylvania regulators say “improper” construction at Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. wells in northeastern Pennsylvania led to contamination at nearby private water wells.

In a state where water and coal have been the dominant sources of electricity historically, Idaho state regulators last month approved a 20-year integrated resource plan (IRP) calling for increased use of natural gas and hydroelectric sources while cutting back considerably on coal-fired electricity.

Texas environmental regulators are planning to launch monitoring of Eagle Ford Shale air emissions some time this year. What has been learned from ongoing emissions monitoring in the Barnett Shale will be applied in the South Texas play, an engineer with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) told NGI.

Texas environmental regulators are planning to launch monitoring of Eagle Ford Shale air emissions some time next year. What has been learned from ongoing emissions monitoring in the Barnett Shale will be applied in the South Texas play, an engineer with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) told NGI’s Shale Daily.