The Source - Spring 2009 - (Page 42)

at last Mr. Comstock goes to Washington My first APGA-related trip to Washington, D.C., was in the spring of 1996 to reconnoiter with Ben Andrews (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) in preparation for a Technical Pipelines Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) meeting. Ben and I were members of the TPSSC, which is a federal advisory committee established by the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) to furnish expert advice, ideas and opinions on proposed federal safety regulations. During a pre-meeting to discuss the TPSSC agenda with other industry representatives, I remember sitting in a room overlooking the rotunda of the Capitol. My only two thoughts were, “This is an amazing view, and what in the world am I doing here?” Growing up in Arizona, I only saw Washington, D.C., courtesy of Walter Cronkite and the CBS Evening News. So, most striking to me was the close-up view of the Capitol I got while conducting business for APGA. For a small-town guy who grew up in the shadows of a copper mine in northwestern Arizona, it all seemed a bit surreal and intimidating. After all, my gas industry career started by digging trenches and welding steel. Now, here I was 20-some years later with my industry colleagues discussing how to advise a federal agency to improve its proposed national safety rules by making them more effi cient and cost-effective. Since then, and over the course of the last 13 years, the city of Mesa and APGA provided me numerous opportunities to visit Washington, D.C., to work on behalf of community-owned gas utilities. Together with fellow APGA members and staff, I walked the halls of Congress educating House and Senate members about important issues that impact our communities and operations. We met with commissioners from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) who are always receptive to hear from utility operators about how their work impacts American consumers and our communities. And, through a constant dialogue with federal regulators at PHMSA, our input has helped establish realistic and cost-eff ective pipeline safety regulations that impact each of our operations on a daily basis. Finally, two events in 2008 that I will never forget: I testified before Congress and met with President Obama’s transition team. At the Congressional hearing, I spoke about the need for additional market transparency in natural gas and other commodities trading. During the hearing, a congresswoman leaned over her microphone to ask me, “What can we do for APGA?” It was both an intimidating and amazing experience. And, just two weeks before Christmas, I met with President Obama’s transition team to discuss energy policies and to place APGA’s positions squarely in front of the new administration. As community-owned utilities, our efforts and growing influence over the last decade is impressive. Remarkable work is taking place for the membership of this association. There are countless ways for you to get involved in APGA’s efforts. One upcoming event in which I strongly encourage you to participate is the Government Relations Conference this May in Washington, D.C. The conference is an opportunity to invite and accompany your locally elected officials (boards, councils and mayors) to D.C. to meet with your congressional members and discuss APGA’s positions on energy related issues, particularly the ones that impact the community you serve. The conference provides attendees with all of the briefing materials for the Capitol Hill visits to help you educate the policymakers representing your community on APGA’s mission. Last year, APGA members scheduled more than 60 Hill visits. The conference is time well spent for you, your locally-elected officials and for the purpose of furthering APGA’s advocacy eff orts. Members of APGA’s staff are ready to answer your questions about the conference and help coordinate visits with your congressional delegation. I urge you to give APGA a call. And, this year, there is no registration fee to attend the conference! You can choose, of course, to see Washington from your television. I used to think that is how you learned about the events in the nation’s Capitol. But, now I can tell you there is no experience like walking into your Senator’s offi ce, shaking their hand and telling them you are ready to talk about energy issues that directly impact their constituents. Each time I fly home to Arizona I think about how far community-owned gas utilities have come through our association. I know you will feel the same way if you join us in May. Mike Comstock 2008-2009 APGA Chairman 42 THE SOURCE | THE VOICE AND CHOICE OF PUBLIC GAS

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Source - Spring 2009

The Source - Spring 2009 Contents First Person APGA Events Q&A: One-on-One with Senator Jeff Bingaman Great Malls Think Alike The Economy and Your Customers Member to Member New Technology: Saving Energy Never Felt So Good New Technology: Get Pumped! Legislative Outlook The Pipeline Advertiser.com Advertisers' Index At Last

The Source - Spring 2009

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