Utility

Firefighters and utility crews were working Thursday to clear and make safe a popular shopping area in northwest Portland, OR, that was whacked by a natural gas explosion caused when a third-party contractor punctured one of utility NW Natural’s distribution pipelines early Wednesday morning.

California regulators on Thursday approved nearly $950 million in increased rates to support Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s (PG&E) natural gas storage and transmission pipeline operations.

A California regulatory judge on Wednesday assessed a $24.3 million fine against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) for failing to maintain accurate records on its natural gas distribution system. The action adds to a previous $10.8 million penalty for an incident two years ago in Carmel, CA.

Plans to get a stalled natural gas-fired power plant in Oregon operating on schedule, as well as selling state regulators on the value of purchasing gas reserves, continue to face hurdles, but not insurmountable ones, Portland General Electric (PGE) CEO Jim Piro told analysts last Friday.

Plans to get a stalled natural gas-fired power plant in Oregon operating on schedule, as well as selling state regulators on the value of purchasing gas reserves, continue to face hurdles, but not insurmountable ones, Portland General Electric (PGE) CEO Jim Piro told analysts last Friday.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Wednesday rejected a proposed utility ratepayer-backed natural gas reserves acquisition program pursued by Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp.’s gas utility in the state. This is the first of up to six state approvals being sought for similar programs in other states where Black Hills has utility operations (see Daily GPI,Oct. 5, 2015).

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Wednesday rejected a proposed utility ratepayer-backed natural gas reserves acquisition program pursued by Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp.’s gas utility in the state. This is the first of up to six state approvals being sought for similar programs in other states where Black Hills has utility operations (see Daily GPI,Oct. 5, 2015).

Retail natural gas utility charges in Colorado would decline 9-10% beginning April 1 under a proposal by

Utility investment in upstream natural gas reserves backed by ratepayer funds has been promoted as a means to procure gas at lower and more stable prices, but a new analysis by a utility ratemaking expert has found “dubious customer benefits” of such arrangements in some cases.