Socalgas

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) plans to fund a $600,000 field demonstration of adsorbed natural gas bifuel vehicles, powered by a compressed natural gas (CNG) system developed by Adsorbed Natural Gas Products Inc. and Ingevity.

Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), on Wednesday declared it is all-in on renewable natural gas (RNG), or biomethane, as it works to become the “cleanest” natural gas utility in North America.

A bipartisan group in the Senate has introduced a bill to extend the 50-cent/gallon alternative fuel tax (AFT) credit for 2018 and 2019, drawing praise from the natural gas vehicle (NGV) sector, which has pushed for the extension.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has approved a settlement for Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) to pay $119.5 million for the adverse consequences of the nation’s largest-ever methane leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas underground storage facility.

A proposed utility program in Minnesota that would let customers choose to pay a premium for renewable natural gas (RNG) has stirred up debate among renewable energy and climate change advocates seeking to phase out all fossil fuels.

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has named Jimmie Cho as COO and Maryam S. Brown as president, succeeding former COO/President Bret Lane, who recently was appointed CEO. Cho currently is senior vice president of customer services for SoCalGas and senior vice president of distribution operations for both of Sempra Energy’s utilities, SoCalGas and San Diego Gas & Electric. Brown currently serves as vice president of federal government affairs for Sempra.

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) on Thursday introduced a winter demand response program through a partnership with participating smart thermostat manufacturers.The Smart Therm Program by the Los Angeles-based Sempra Energy utility, is designed to conserve gas during the most severe cold weather events. Residential customers agree to have their smart thermostats be remotely adjusted by up to 4 degrees when a cold weather event. Participants may receive $50 and an additional $25 for remaining in the program through April 1.When a cold weather event is called on a non-holiday weekday, participants are notified via smartphone or email that their thermostats will be automatically adjusted for a four-hour period. Customers who enroll in the program can manually adjust their thermostat at any time.

A jittery natural gas market plagued by a historic storage deficit that has only worsened before the peak of the winter season got some good news on the weather front as outlooks showed warmer temperatures beginning next week, a trend that could last for the next several weeks. January forward prices plunged an average 41 cents from Nov. 29-Dec. 5, while the balance of winter (February-March) dropped an average 31 cents, according to NGI’s Forward Look.

*Part 3 of 3. Historically low storage inventories are doing battle withsurging unconventional output — raisingthe stakes and uncertainty for bears and bulls heading into the winter. This series lays out a roadmap for what could influence natural gas markets during the upcoming Winter 2018/19 heating season. Part 1 looked at markets in the East and Midwest. Part 2examined the South Central region.