Gas Distribution
AGA’s Sames bids farewell after 20 years
After nearly 20 years, Christina Sames is stepping away from her role as senior vice president of Operations & Engineering for the American Gas Association (AGA).
Columbia Gas to replace high-pressure lines, add utility stations in Upper Arlington, Ohio
Columbia Gas is set to begin a major infrastructure overhaul across Upper Arlington in 2025, with projects aimed at replacing aging high-pressure gas lines and adding two above-ground utility stations.
Enbridge acquires PSNC, adding over 13,000 miles of pipeline to its U.S. gas utility portfolio
Enbridge Inc. has completed its acquisition of PSNC from Dominion Energy, integrating the gas utility into its Gas Distribution and Storage Business Unit. PSNC, now operating as Enbridge Gas North Carolina, serves over 600,000 customers and boasts an extensive network of over 13,000 miles of natural gas pipelines.
Utility services firm Precision acquires pipeline integrity specialist Allegheny Contracting
Allegheny provides gas transmission pipeline integrity services, including repair and maintenance from regulatory inspections, and the repair and replacement of underground gas distribution pipelines.
Southwest Gas enlists Bowman Consulting Group natural gas distribution system surveying services
Southwest Gas provides natural gas service to more than 2 million customers throughout Arizona, Nevada and portions of California. Bowman supports Southwest Gas with a variety of utility-specific survey, engineering and design services throughout Arizona.
Chesapeake Utilities expands Florida’s underground gas transmission with $46 million investment
The new facilities will consist of approximately 14 miles of new transmission infrastructure, a district regulator station, a tie-in with FCG's distribution system and an interconnect with existing PPC facilities.
Inside Infrastructure: 8th DCA/AGA workshop bolsters communication, cooperation
The 8th annual DCA & AGA Workshop, held in Kansas City, brought together 140 industry representatives and featured discussions on pipeline safety, workforce development, cybersecurity, and legislative challenges, highlighting the critical importance of collaboration in the gas distribution industry.
Hope Gas expands West Virginia reach with Consumers Gas Utility purchase
Hope Gas has finalized an agreement to acquire Consumers Gas Utility Company in West Virginia, pending approval from the state's Public Service Commission.
Matador Resources expands infrastructure with new gas pipeline connections in Permian Basin
Matador Resources Company has announced the successful completion of natural gas pipeline connections between Pronto Midstream and San Mateo and between Pronto Midstream and Matador’s acreage obtained in the Advance acquisition.
Enbridge increases gas utility portfolio with closing of EOG acquisition from Dominion Energy
EOG has a robust portfolio of assets, including over 22,000 miles (over 35,400 km) of transmission, gathering and distribution pipelines, underground storage, and interconnections to multiple interstate pipelines and large natural gas producers.
CenterPoint Energy sells Louisiana, Mississippi natural gas assets for $1.2 billion
CenterPoint Energy Inc. has announced the sale of its Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses to Bernhard Capital Partners, a services and infrastructure-focused private equity management firm, for $1.2 billion.
New Jersey Natural Gas files base rate increase to support $850 million infrastructure investment
The investment included upgrades to critical infrastructure, including looping and reinforcement projects, and the replacement of 140 miles of vintage distribution mains and associated service lines to ensure the safety, reliability and integrity of its delivery systems and support mandates set forth in state and federal regulation.
CorEnergy sells interstate natural gas pipeline system to Spire Midstream from $175 million
The MoGas System is an interstate natural gas transmission and distribution system provides service to markets in Missouri and Illinois.
Enbridge, FortisBC to study hydrogen delivery through Canadian gas pipeline infrastructure
This hydrogen blending study will look at the percentage of hydrogen that can be safely transported through gas pipeline infrastructure, such as Enbridge's Westcoast natural gas transmission system, as well as FortisBC's gas transmission and distribution systems, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help develop a low-carbon energy economy.
NPCC launches gas infrastructure study to evaluate distribution systems, pipeline constraints
The Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) announced the launch of a northeastern regional gas infrastructure study to evaluate fuel supply to the region’s electric generation.
Indiana utility requests rate raise to fund natural gas infrastructure modernizations
The request is largely driven by federal safety and compliance regulations, system upgrades to support economic development and job creation, and infrastructure modernization and improvements that directly benefit customers and communities.
Chesapeake Utilities expands natural gas business with $923 million Florida City Gas acquisition
With the addition of FCG, Chesapeake Utilities' overall natural gas distribution presence in Florida will include an approved regulated rate base of $941 million, serving more than 211,000 customers through nearly 7,000 miles of natural gas distribution company pipeline.
Federal regulators propose rule changes after 2018 gas distribution pipeline blasts in Massachusetts
These proposed changes are designed to improve safety and ease risk through the improvement of emergency response plans, integrity management plans, operation manuals and other steps, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Duke Energy methane emissions monitoring platform to receive federal funding
The company's current methane-monitoring platform – which has reduced recordable leaks by more than 85% since the beginning of 2022 – uses satellites, sensors and other cutting-edge technologies to detect leaks and measure real-time methane emissions on underground natural gas distribution systems.
AGA Chair sees future shaped by education, innovation
(UI) — Sitherwood, who plans to retire from Spire this December, sat down with Underground Infrastructure to discuss her career, her outlook for the natural gas industry and her work as the 2023 chair of the American Gas Association (AGA).
Officials approve $990,000 settlement with utility for 2019 gas main explosion
Canonsburg-based Columbia Gas took responsibility for the July 2019 blast in North Franklin Township, saying it had failed to install a key piece of equipment in the home while workers nearby upgraded a gas main.
Kalamazoo neighborhood evacuated after underground gas line fire
Authorities evacuated several homes in a Kalamazoo neighborhood Thursday evening after a ruptured gas line caught fire.
Utility Sued for $50 Million Over Fatal House Explosion
A $50 million lawsuit was filed against a utility company over an explosion that killed two people and damaged several homes in Flint, Michigan.
Pennsylvania’s Gas-Well Revenue Down as Price, Drilling Drop
Gas well revenue in Pennsylvania is at its lowest after prices sank during the pandemic.
$56M Settlement Approved in Massachusetts Gas Explosions
A $56 million settlement has been approved in the case regarding a series of natural gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts in 2018.
Illinois Regulators Approve Report on Condition of Chicago Gas Distribution Network
Regulators in Illinois have agreed with the conclusion of a report that found a natural gas distribution network replacement program in Chicago from Peoples Gas will increase public and customer safety.
Investigation into Baltimore Explosion Finds Gas Utility Equipment Not to Blame
An investigation by Baltimore Gas and Electric into a recent fatal gas explosion in the city discovered that the company's pipes and equipment were not responsible for the blast.
Gas Explosion Levels 3 Baltimore Homes, at Least 2 Dead
A natural gas explosion in a Baltimore neighborhood on Monday killed one woman and university student. Firefighters reported at least two people were hospitalized with serious injuries.
North Carolina Utilities Told to Stop Disconnections Through August
Regulators in North Carolina have instructed the state's large, for-profit utility companies to continue delaying disconnections through the month of August.
Utility & Communications Construction Update
The spread of the coronavirus has upended almost every staple of U.S. life, and businesses have no sense of what the next two weeks, much less the next two months, could look like. With these themes as the backdrop, there are some takeaways we can share for planning the next six months, as we consider both oil and the spread of the coronavirus.
- OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
- Cadiz to reuse steel from terminated Keystone XL pipeline for California groundwater project
- Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
- Biden-Harris administration invests $849 million in aging water infrastructure, drought resilience
- Frontier-Kemper wins $1.1 billion New York tunnel project