Residents

Residents in the Boston area are concerned about Duke Energy’s new plans to extend the proposed HubLine lateral facilities from Deer Island through three densely populated communities to affiliate Algonquin Gas Transmission’s existing pipeline facilities in Everett, MA, said a spokeswoman for a Boston-based group involved in urban land preservation last week.

Residents in the Boston area are concerned about Duke Energy’s new plans to extend the proposed HubLine lateral facilities from Deer Island through three densely populated communities to affiliate Algonquin Gas Transmission’s existing pipeline facilities in Everett, MA, said a spokeswoman for a Boston-based group involved in urban land preservation.

About 100 residents were evacuated within a five-mile radius of an explosion that occurred along TransCanada PipeLines mainline near Brookdale, MB, on Sunday April 14 at 11 p.m. (CDT). The explosion and fire occurred along a portion of the system in a relatively remote area. There were no reported injuries, and about 5.2 Bcf/d of gas is continuing to flow through three of the six mainline pipes there. By Friday, only one line remained out of service.

North Carolina Natural Gas (NCNG) employees last week were working to repair a ruptured gas transmission pipeline that serves the New Bern, NC area. The line, located near the intersection of Racetrack Road and State Road 1005, was struck by a construction contractor’s equipment at 3:35 p.m. last Monday. No injuries were reported. Emergency personnel secured the scene of the break and evacuated 500 people in the area. Power also was cut off in the area.

North Carolina Natural Gas (NCNG) employees are working to repair a ruptured gas transmission pipeline that serves the New Bern, NC area. The line, located near the intersection of Racetrack Road and State Road 1005, was struck by a construction contractor’s equipment at 3:35 p.m. Monday. No injuries were reported. Emergency personnel secured the scene of the break and evacuated 500 people in the area. Power also was cut off in the area.

Houston-area residents served by Reliant Energy Entex will see a 22% reduction in natural gas bills beginning in February, saving customers about $90 million on an annual basis. The reduction follows one last August when the company announced a 19% reduction to save about $100 million on an annual basis. A typical bill for 100 cubic feet that was $83.27 now will be $65.17, reflecting fluctuations in fuel prices. “The price we pay to purchase natural gas has continued to drop in the last several months, and these lower wholesale prices reduce the cost of delivering natural gas,” said Tom Standish, president of Reliant Energy HL&P/Entex.

Houston-area residents served by Reliant Energy Entex will see a 22% reduction in natural gas bills beginning in February, saving customers about $90 million on an annual basis. The reduction follows one last August when the company announced a 19% reduction to save about $100 million on an annual basis. A typical bill for 100 cubic feet that was $83.27 now will be $65.17, reflecting fluctuations in fuel prices. “The price we pay to purchase natural gas has continued to drop in the last several months, and these lower wholesale prices reduce the cost of delivering natural gas,” said Tom Standish, president of Reliant Energy HL&P/Entex.

Starting the new year on a giving note, Purchase, NY-based The New Power Co. (TNPC) offered Georgia residents who are 65 years and older in the AGL distribution area a new discounted natural gas offer of $0.609 per therm. This special one-year rate, available through Feb. 28, 2002, is on average 10% less than the standard rate offered by the state’s current largest gas marketer.

Although there remains a dearth of retail electricity choice in Ohio, residents can take some comfort in knowing that they are protected by a wide range of consumer standards, and that the state will not ignore attempts to abuse Ohio’s evolving energy marketplace, according to a new report issued last Tuesday by the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.