Washington’s Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) on Wednesday slapped a $104,300 penalty on Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy (PSE) for violating an order directing it to correct the use of its “refusal of service” requirements. The UTC action alleges that PSE in October 2010 provided “inaccurate or misleading information” to some of its customers, including low-income people, regarding how much they were required to pay to reconnect their gas and electric utility service. In addition, the regulators alleged that the combination utility misled or inaccurately informed customers who had been disconnected for nonpayment. UTC ordered the utility to correct the mishandling of 26 customer accounts, all of which were part of a random sampling of hundreds of disconnected customer accounts. The state regulatory panel said a UTC staff investigation subsequently found that PSE had “failed to correct its mishandling” of the accounts, and alleged that the utility committed 515 violations.
Sound
Articles from Sound
Investigations Continue on Seattle Gas Explosion
While separate regulatory commission and fire department investigations are ongoing, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) determined Tuesday it is probable that a wind-toppled tree in a north Seattle residential neighborhood caused a gas leak at a home blocks away that resulted in an explosion at 6 a.m . Monday. The married couple inside the home were being treated for various burn-related injuries and the home was leveled, a PSE spokesperson told NGI Tuesday.
Low Gas Prices Spur Puget Utility to Launch RFP
Even in what continues to be a weak economic recovery, Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy (PSE) said Monday it is moving ahead with an all-source request for proposals (RFP) for new long-term power supplies to come online over the 2012 to 2015 period. Natural gas-fired generation is very much in the mix of bids PSE is seeking, the utility told state regulators in seeking approval for the RFP.
West Virginia Governor ‘Concerned’ After City Bans Fracking
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said he was concerned about the Morgantown City Council’s decision Tuesday night to pass an ordinance banning hydraulic fracturing (fracking) within the city and an adjacent one-mile buffer zone, and requested the city to “confine its governance to its city limits.”
‘Oily Substance’ Spotted Along Louisiana Coast
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) was responding Wednesday afternoon to a report of oil in Breton Sound near Venice, LA. The spill was said to be several miles long, but it was not known if it was oil.
PSE Signs Iberdrola Deal for Winter Gas-Fired Power
Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has signed a deal with Portland, OR-based Iberdrola Renewables for winter-only electricity supplies from the independent power provider’s Klamath generating facility in Southern Oregon. PSE signed up for 100 MW to be delivered starting Jan. 1 next year.
Chesapeake to Resume Well Completions in Pennsylvania
Chesapeake Energy Corp. said Friday it will immediately resume completion operations in Pennsylvania, a little more than three weeks after voluntarily suspending them following a well blowout in the northeast part of the state.
People
Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has named Kimberly Harris as its new CEO, replacing Steve Reynolds who retired. Harris joined PSE 12 years ago.
People
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has named Executive Vice President Kimberly Harris, 46, as the utility’s new president. Harris joined PSE in 1999 and has held several leadership positions during the past 11 years — most recently serving as executive vice president and chief resource officer, responsible for all of PSE’s energy resources, including project development and contract management, energy efficiency services and federal government relations. Prior to that she was a senior vice president for regulatory policy and energy efficiency. Harris also has been PSE’s vice president of regulatory and government affairs, associate general counsel and director of load resource strategies.
Puget Sound Energy Names New President
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) said Wednesday its board named Executive Vice President Kimberly Harris, 46, as the utility’s new president.
