American Gas - April 2014 - (Page 10)

digest Continued from page 9 and "add a module to its more than 300,000 gas meters that can transmit information as well," the newspaper reported. The meters will utilize a wireless network built by california-based silver spring networks, which has installed similar systems for Pacific Gas and electric and Oklahoma Gas and electric. cPs energy's move comes as most deregulated utilities in the state finish their own state-mandated conversions to smart meters, the newspaper said. Gas south is offering service to commercial customers in Florida. The expansion is the first for Gas south beyond Georgia's borders. Gas south will serve commercial customers in each of Florida's major utility areas open to competition. Gas south's service area will include the metropolitan areas of Fort meyers, Jacksonville, miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Gas south plans to serve a wide range of commercial customers in Florida, including manufacturers, hotels, restaurants, dry cleaners, hospitals, schools, universities, and governmental entities. nicholas Glover, a veteran of nAsDAQ and American express, has been hired to direct the expansion and will be based in Tampa. 10 AmericAn GAs april 2014 energy spending. Those data show that the average U.S. household spent $9,000, or 18 percent of total expenditures, on energy in 2012. About one-third of that was on direct energy expenses such as home heating and gasoline, as well as energy embedded in everyday products, such as the petrochemical feed stocks used to make everything from clothing to plastic bottles. An additional two-thirds is "indirect," the energy used to process and deliver finished goods and services. The study compared actual 2012 expenditures with what households would have spent had prices of natural gas remained on the trajectory that had been expected prior to the largescale recovery of shale gas. The authors estimate that around 30 percent to 50 percent of the cost savings to companies from cheaper natural gas have already been passed along to consumers. Those savings come in the form of lower prices, an amount equal to an extra 3 percent to 6 percent of additional discretionary spending each year for the average U.S. household. Because it takes time for changes in wholesale energy prices to flow through to end consumers, the consultancy suggests the benefits of energy savings could rise significantly in the future. By 2020, the average U.S. household could save between $725 and $1,200 a year as an estimated 60 percent to 80 percent of the savings of lower energy costs flow through to consumers, providing a substantial boost to the economy. A similar study by consultancy IHS, "America's New Energy Future," released last year found that unconventional oil and gas production will increase disposable income by as much as $2,000 per household in 2015 and more than $3,500 by 2025 by generating savings in energy costs as well as reducing costs for other goods and services. -G.J. u p d At e High-Speed Training Four-week program qualifies workers for industry jobs s outh Jersey Gas has partnered with several community colleges in its area to train technicians to install and maintain natural gas lines in the region. In February, Atlantic Cape, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem community colleges offered an operator and technician training program. The program was conducted both on-campus and at a newly renovated South Jersey Gas facility that offers state-of-the-art technology for training purposes. They were trained by instructors from South Jersey Gas and Northeast Gas Association as well as college instructors. Graduating students were prepared to take the National Gas Association Operator Qualification exam and received job search assistance for employment with area pipeline installers, South Jersey Gas said. Students attended full time for four weeks. The cost was $3,200, but the under- or unemployed could qualify for free training, thanks to the participation of county Workforce Investment Boards.Training included pipe fitting, installation and inspection, meter installation, leak detection, and accident awareness and prevention. Facing a shortage of qualified workers, a variety of utilities and other industry players have formed partnerships with community colleges. As detailed by a report by America's Natural Gas Alliance on workforce development, initiatives have included Encana Corp.'s support for skill-development programs at various Colorado colleges and initiatives by Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, and others to partner with Wyoming schools to create classroom-based and hands-on training programs. The Gas Measurement Training Council, a consortium of 17 companies, has developed a training program for gas measurement that has been implemented in community colleges in Utah and Kansas. -Richard Sine

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American Gas - April 2014