Retail

For the third consecutive year, Oregon state regulators on Monday lowered the retail charges in natural gas rates for two of the state’s three private-sector gas distribution utilities. The lower charges are effective Tuesday and will bring continued lower winter gas bills, although the rates for one utility stayed essentially flat.

Propane company NGL Energy Partners LP had its eye on North America’s expanding liquids-rich shale plays when it agreed to acquire the natural gas liquids (NGL) assets of SemGroup Corp.’s SemStream LP in a deal worth about $283 million.

Two West Coast utilities — one private- and the other public-sector — are leading the nation in offering green power programs to retail customers, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). Portland General Electric (PGE) in Oregon has more renewable energy customers than any utility in the nation, DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicated in national rankings released Tuesday. At the end of 2010, PGE had nearly 78,000 residential and business customers, or 12.6% of its eligible customers, enrolled in a renewable power program, well ahead of the national average of 2%. Portland, OR-based PGE led the nation in renewable sales in 2010 for the sixth consecutive year. In California the Santa Clara municipal utility, Silicon Valley Power, is in the top 10 nationally with its green power program, drawing more than 100 businesses and nearly 4,000 homes to the program, NREL’s report confirmed. Silicon Valley sold more than 70,000 MWh of green-based power last year.

In the article “Southwest Gas Shutoff Aftermath Lingers” (see Daily GPI, March 30), NGI incorrectly stated that during a severe freeze in February “some 40,000 retail gas customers experienced shut-offs in New Mexico, with thousands more in certain areas of southern Arizona.” The 40,000 number is incorrect. The sentence should read “Thousands more were affected in other areas of New Mexico and certain areas of southern Arizona.” NGI regrets the error.

Retail natural gas consumers in the Lone Star State have paid “tens of millions of dollars more” for the commodity than they should have due to “one-sided” decisions by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), a coalition of Texas cities’ analysis charges.

Retail natural gas consumers in the Lone Star State have paid “tens of millions of dollars more” for the commodity than they should have due to “one-sided” decisions by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), a coalition of Texas cities’ analysis charges.

For the second consecutive year, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced Wednesday it is lowering retail natural gas charges for the state’s three major private-sector gas distribution utilities, effective Monday (Nov. 1).

Intermountain Gas Company has asked the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to authorize further reductions of its retail natural gas utility rates based on lower wholesale gas costs. Intermountain asked to lower its annual revenue requirement by $2.2 million, effective Oct. 1.

Chicago-based Nordic Energy Services LLC, an independently owned alternative retail electric supplier, has finalized an agreement to provide natural gas delivery and consulting services supplying approximately 400 facilities managed by the City of Chicago’s Department of General Services. Under the five-year agreement Nordic also will advise the city on long-term purchasing opportunities. Formed in 2002, Nordic supplies natural gas, electricity and related services to commercial and industrial customers in deregulated markets. Nordic also provides customized risk management and hedging solutions, energy scheduling, bill audit services and other energy related consulting services.