Saving

North American shale gas, particularly in the United States, has proven an energy cost-saving miracle for consumers who otherwise would be staring at prices three or four times higher, according to reports released Thursday by Toronto-based TD Group, the holding company for TD Bank.

North American shale gas, particularly in the United States, has proven an energy cost-saving miracle for consumers who otherwise would be staring at prices three or four times higher, according to Toronto-based TD Group, the holding company for TD Bank.

In a first for resolving clean air issues and saving natural gas at western production facilities, Kerr-McGee Corp., now a subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum, Thursday reached an $18 million settlement under the federal Clean Air Act that is supposed to slash harmful emissions and save natural gas at its production facilities in Colorado and Utah. The company self-disclosed a number of violations and has “worked cooperatively” with regulators to resolve them, regulators said.

In a first for resolving clean air issues and saving natural gas at western production facilities, Kerr-McGee Corp., now a subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum, Thursday reached an $18 million settlement under the federal Clean Air Act that is supposed to slash harmful emissions and save natural gas at its production facilities in Colorado and Utah. The company self-disclosed a number of violations and has “worked cooperatively” with regulators to resolve them, regulators said.

It sounds simple: to lower the price consumers pay for natural gas, give the local distribution company (LDC) incentives for saving money when it buys the gas on consumers’ behalf.

It sounds simple: to lower the price consumers pay for natural gas, give the local distribution company (LDC) incentives for saving money when it buys the gas on consumers’ behalf.

Sponsors of Canada’s arctic natural gas project have beaten off a challenge from within the industry by winning a cost-saving decision from the National Energy Board. The NEB, in a ruling on a hotly-contested move by newcomers to the northern Canadian gas scene, refused to declare the Mackenzie Gas Project’s 190-kilometer (120-mile) Mackenzie Delta gathering grid a common carrier subject to open-access and tariff regulation.

Sponsors of Canada’s arctic natural gas project have beaten off a challenge from within the industry by winning a cost-saving decision from the National Energy Board. The NEB, in a ruling on a hotly-contested move by newcomers to the northern Canadian gas scene, refused to declare the Mackenzie Gas Project’s 190-kilometre (120-mile) Mackenzie Delta gathering grid a common carrier subject to open-access and tariff regulation.

San Diego Gas and Electric Co. has expanded the number of customers potentially eligible for its low-income energy-saving programs to comply with changes in state income guidelines. The Sempra Energy utility calls its expanded program the “Energy Team” program, featuring various home energy-savings-improvement services. Energy Team offers income-qualified renters and homeowners no-cost services that include: door weather-stripping and caulking; ceiling insulation; low-flow showerheads; and energy-efficient refrigerators, along with other minor home repairs that can reduce energy use. Last year, more than 11,000 qualified customers received a variety of home-weatherization services, SDG&E said. New income guidelines established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) were effective last June 1, permitting household incomes of $28,000 for one- and two-person households, up to a maximum of $54,300 annual incomes for households of six or more. For each household member above the six, another $6,900 of income can be added. The income levels were adjusted by the CPUC, effective June 1, to reflect changes in the federal poverty guidelines.