American Gas - November 2012 - (Page 25)

1 The new Jersey board of Public Utilities approved accelerated infrastructure programs for the major state utilities to invest $956 million. The programs were part of the state’s 2009 economic stimulus plan. 2 new Jersey In 2012, the state legislature enacted a law allowing surchargebased recovery of infrastructure repair, replacement, and improvement costs. Columbia Gas Transmission launched a 12,000-mile interstate pipeline system upgrade, with spending in Pennsylvania alone set for $400 million a year over the next five years. The effort is part of parent company niSource’s $4 billion, 15-year program across six states. 3 PennsylvAniA Washington Gas Light filed a rate case proposing expansion of its existing pipe replacement program. The effort targets $119 million over five years—the initial phase of a 50-year, $749 million plan to replace 400 miles of pipelines. 4 7 District of columbiA Under the virginia SAve program, Columbia Gas of virginia received approval in 2011 for an $82 million accelerated gas main replacement program and Washington Gas received approval for four programs totaling $116.5 million. 5 virginiA 8 2 1 Atlanta Gas Light is expected to finish a 15-year effort to replace more than 2,700 miles of pipeline in 2013. new programs have authorized an additional $445 million to serve new customers, extend pipelines to areas without access, and create economic development corridors to spur growth. 6 georgiA 4 3 TeCo Peoples Gas expanded its 10-year program to replace pipe after being approved to spend an additional $70 million beyond the $1 million per year previously authorized in rates. Peoples Gas will replace 550 miles of pipe—about 4 percent of its system. 7 floriDA A 2011 settlement with the michigan Public Service Commission enables SemCo energy to recover incremental capitalrelated pipeline replacement costs. The new program will reduce the replacement time-frame from 60 years to 25 years. 8 michigAn In ohio, which has had cost-recovery mechanisms in place since 2008 and which recently amended its Public Utilities Act to let natural gas LDCs request deferral of revenue requirements (see page 26), Columbia Gas of ohio, Dominion east ohio, and vectren have filed requests totaling $156 million for 2012. 9 5 ohio CenterPoint energy’s ongoing pipe replacement program has been modified several times since its inception in 1988. The estimated completion date is 2026. 10 ArkAnsAs 6 11 In 2003, a statewide Gas reliability Infrastructure Program statute became effective for all Texas natural gas utilities, allowing them to file a tariff that provides for an adjustment to rates. In 2011, the railroad Commission of Texas adopted a statewide safety rule requiring pipeline surveys and replacement programs, and allowing for cost recovery via a deferral mechanism. In 2011, Southwest Gas received approval of a limited mechanism to defer for later recovery of the costs of earlier projects, and in 2012, it requested a surcharge mechanism to allow it to invest up to $40 million per year for continued pipeline replacement. —P.H. ingo fast november 2012 AmericAn GAs texAs nevADA 25

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - November 2012

American Gas - November 2012
Table of Contents
President’s Message
Industry News
Ask AGA
Search Engine
In the Know
Part One: Pipelines
Company Profiles
Places to Be
Jobline
Advertisers Index
Noteworthies
Marketplace
Facts on Gas

American Gas - November 2012