American Gas - May 2014 - (Page 12)

digest Continued from page 11 stake in an 800-mile pipeline from the state's north slope, a gas-processing plant, and a liquefaction facility set to begin shipments in 2021. Alaska's north slope holds more than 35 Tcf of discovered gas. The deal awaits approval by the state legislature. northern Penobscot Tech is developing an adult-education class aimed at training displaced paper mill workers for jobs building and servicing a 12-mile-long gas line currently under construction in Lincoln, maine. school officials told the Bangor Daily News they thought as many as 100 jobs could develop over the next few years as a result of the pipeline project. if funding is available, the classes could launch as soon as this summer, school officials said. new Hampshire-based Unitil has launched a new safety education website for contractors and their employees, just in time for the start of construction season. The esmart Worker website includes power line and pipeline safety tips, instructional videos, case studies, and an interactive quiz, all aimed at keeping the public safe around building sites. construction-industry trainers can download free educational materials from the site and order free booklets, visor cards, and brochures to help teach employees about the latest utility-related safety information. U.s. natural gas storage capacity grew 2 percent Continued on page 14 12 AmericAn GAs may 2014 any surprises when they open their utility bill." The three most active states were New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, where Tough believes awareness is likely higher than in other states. In November, Choose Energy announced it had raised $7.5 million in venture funding from Silicon Valley stalwart Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, and has plans to expand into all 22 states where natural gas is deregulated and all 19 electric deregulation states. -Jennifer Pilla Taylor u p d At e Satisfaction Business customers were happier with utilities in 2013 s atisfaction among natural gas business customers rebounded in 2013, in part as a result of an improving economy but also because of increased communications by utilities, according to J.D. Power and Associates. The 54 utilities in J.D. Power's new Gas Utility Business Customer Study scored an average of 687 points in interviews conducted in mid- to late-2013. That's up 31 points from the 656 scored during the 2012 surveys. John Hazen, senior director of the energy utility practice at J.D. Power, told American Gas that proactive communication via channels that gas business customers prefer was a key driver in the survey, which was based on responses from more than 9,500 online interviews with business cus- tomers that spend at least $200 a month on gas. On average, the number of proactive customer contacts-such as an in-person visit, telephone call, or email from a utility representative-increased to 3.1, from 2.7 the previous year. Recollection of communication via a utility's digital channels-including websites, blogs, social media, emails, or text messages-increased to 35 percent, from 31 percent. Awareness of utilities' corporate citizenship efforts increased, with 28 percent indicating they were aware of their utility's donations and sponsorships, up from 24 percent. While there were improvements across all categories in the survey, satisfaction with price increased the most. Hazen said that utilities worried about the impact of big bills from this winter on customer satisfaction may want to redouble their communications efforts. Customers want to hear from them about billing options and energy-efficiency programs. "Even if your customers are paying more, if they think that it's a fair price, then they're OK with it," he said. Southern California Gas Co. and MidAmerican Energy topped their respective regions for the second year in a row. Oklahoma Natural Gas was tops in the South for the first time; Washington Gas was first in the East for the first time since 2009. --J.P.T. u p d At e Building Support for a Vital Program During LIHEAP Action Day, advocates gathered for a day of congressional meetings n atural gas remains the nation's most affordable and reliable energy option, but millions of Americans continue to struggle to meet home energy and heating costs, particularly after a winter marked by record cold and soaring demand. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is a critical resource, providing federal funding to help utilities meet the nation's energy needs. To help ensure

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American Gas - May 2014