Strain

Nearly three-quarters of American homeowners are concerned that home energy costs will strain their finances over the next year, according to a survey conducted by Impulse Research for MXenergy Inc. The research also found that only 30% have come to understand how home energy prices are set, and 90% feel they have limited or no control over energy costs.

Nearly three-quarters of American homeowners are concerned that home energy costs will strain their finances over the next year, according to a survey conducted by Impulse Research for MXenergy Inc. The research also found that only 30% have come to understand how home energy prices are set, and 90% feel they have limited or no control over energy costs.

This third winter of high natural gas prices could strain the finances of local distribution companies, especially if regulators fail to allow the timely pass-through of gas costs, according to a Standard and Poor’s report.

This third winter of high natural gas prices could strain the finances of local distribution companies, especially if regulators fail to allow the timely pass-through of gas costs, according to a Standard and Poor’s report.

Northwest reported Wednesday afternoon that over the past two days it “experienced a dramatic increase in the strain gauge readings on the 26-inch mainline” near Carson, WA in the Columbia River Gorge. As a result, a stress relief project previously scheduled to begin Friday instead was implemented Wednesday. The line was taken out of service in the interests of safety for excavation crews. Physical flows were cut to zero through Willard Compressor Station (normal design capacity of 425,000 Dth/d southbound and 487,000 Dth/d northbound). “Given the current flow patterns through this section of pipe, Northwest anticipates that storage flexibility will be used to meet customer requests during the outage,” it said. “However, any significant increase in nominations across the Gorge could result in capacity cuts and a possible deficiency period.” The pipeline did not project any date for ending the work.

Although a final decision has not yet been handed down by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) on its proposed plan to shut in 900 natural gas wells in the Athabasca Oil Sands area in northeastern Alberta on Aug. 1 in order to preserve crude bitumen production, such a decision could have a significant upward impact on Canadian gas prices, according to Thomas Driscoll of Lehman Brothers. Driscoll estimates that gas consumption in Canada would have to decline 6-10% this year as a result of the policy decision.

Although a final decision has not yet been handed down by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) on its proposed plan to shut in 900 natural gas wells in the Athabasca Oil Sands area in northeastern Alberta on Aug. 1 in order to preserve crude bitumen production, such a decision could have a significant upward impact on Canadian gas prices, according to Thomas Driscoll of Lehman Brothers. Driscoll estimates that gas consumption in Canada would have to decline 6-10% this year as a result of the policy decision.

The widespread blast of Arctic cold put a strain on natural gas and electricity distribution across the eastern third of the United States last week as consumers cranked up their heat to counteract single-digit temperatures in many locations. Utilities as far south as Florida, where temperatures dipped to the lowest level in more than a decade, warned consumers to take precautions and conserve energy as delivery systems were tested and old records were broken for gas and power sendout.

The extended arctic cold blast has put a strain on natural gas and electricity local distribution companies (LDC) across the eastern third of the United States as consumers crank up their heat to counteract single-digit temperatures in many locations. Many LDCs are taking precautions as old records are broken for gas sendout and winter power demand.