Blogs

Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing on FERC Nominee

By Dave Schryver posted 6 hours ago
Be the first person to like this.
Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the President’s nomination of Bernard McNamee to fill the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seat formerly held by Commissioner Rob Powelson. Mr. McNamee is currently the head of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Policy and prior to that he served as a DOE Deputy General Counsel. In his role at DOE, Mr. McNamee was one of the architects of DOE’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which proposed to provide cost recovery to electric generation plants with 90 days of fuel onsite. Before joining DOE, he was head of the Tenth Amendment Center at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, ...
0 comments

EIA Reports Storage Increase of 39 Bcf to Put Working Gas Storage at 3,247 Bcf

By Audrey Anderson posted 9 hours ago
Be the first person to like this.
Here is the weekly EIA Summary Report issued on Thursday, November 15, 2018, which reports the week’s storage report highlights for Friday, November 9. A 39 Bcf increase has been reported. Working gas in storage was 3,247 Bcf as of Friday, November 9, 2018, according to EIA estimates. This represents a net increase of 39 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 528 Bcf less than last year at this time and 601 Bcf below the five-year average of 3,848 Bcf. At 3,247 Bcf, total working gas is below the five-year historical range.
0 comments

Combined Heat & Power Products, Applications & Economics

By Dan Lapato posted 10 hours ago
Be the first person to like this.
Join us for a webinar on December 6, 2018 at 2:00 PM EST. Register Now! Natural gas utilities are increasing efforts to promote Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to their customers. Potential customers are ready and willing to look at this technology to save money and add resiliency. There is a triple win when the environment benefits from reduced CO2 emissions as a result of installing CHP. Eric Burgis, Director of Residential and Commercial Markets at the Energy Solutions Center, will introduce the listener to CHP technologies, and typical paybacks and life cycle costing. Best applications for CHP in the residential, commercial & industrial markets will ...
0 comments

AHRI Furnace Testing Petition

By Dan Lapato posted 10 hours ago
Be the first person to like this.
Over the last several years, the Department of Energy (DOE) has established three separate minimum energy efficiencies that impact residential natural gas furnaces. On November 14, DOE published the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI) petition to develop a single energy efficiency standard for all three pieces of the furnaces. The AFUE 2 standard would be based on current assumptions and allow for the harmonization of compliance dates, implementation schedules and it would simplify the energy consumption label. By combining these standards, it would allow manufacturers to look for the best energy efficiency gains without having to ...
0 comments

APGA Attends Higher Logic Super Forum

By John Powers posted 11 hours ago
Be the first person to like this.
APGA staff was in attendance at the ninth annual Higher Logic Super Forum this past November 6-8 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. Higher Logic is the hosting and community platform for a number of association websites including APGA.org. This annual meeting gathers web, membership, and technology professionals to gain insights and share ideas. Keynote speakers included author and TEDx speaker Jackie Huba, a customer loyalty expert who spoke about the value of word-of-mouth marketing and what she called “customer evangelism,” where the most loyal customers of a business become an unwitting volunteer sales force. Another ...
0 comments

Congress’ Lame Duck Session

By Doug MacGillivray posted 11 hours ago
Be the first person to like this.
Since the midterm elections have concluded, Congress returns to complete work for the 115th Congress. The Lame Duck period, roughly four weeks between November 13 and mid-December, is full of uncertainty. Republicans in the House and Senate will need to cobble together voting blocs in order to pass any final legislative items on their wish list. This could prove a daunting task. However, several legislative items remain that must be completed by the end of the year. First on that list is the completion of the remaining fiscal year 2019 appropriations bills. Earlier this year, Congress passed roughly half of the 12 spending bills before the September 30 deadline. ...
0 comments

APGA Government Relations Webinar

By Dave Schryver posted 11 hours ago
Be the first person to like this.
On December 6, APGA will hold a webinar for its members to provide an overview of APGA’s legislative and regulatory activities in 2018. The webinar will be presented by Dave Schryver, APGA’s Executive Vice President, and Dan Lapato and Doug MacGillivray, Directors of Government Affairs. During the webinar, they will update APGA members on a number of legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts. APGA holds government relations webinars twice a year. A mid-year webinar was held earlier this year prior to the congressional August recess. Members can register for the webinar, and afterwards view a recording of the webinar at www.apga.org/webinars . For questions ...
0 comments

Mid-Term Elections Bring Change to Congress

By Dave Schryver posted 7 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
After months of campaigning and over $5 billion spent on federal campaigns alone, the 2018 mid-term elections concluded on November 7. Historically, the party in control of the White House tends to lose seats in a mid-term election. For example, in the mid-term 2006 elections (with President Bush in the White House) the Republicans lost 30 seats in the House and six seats in the Senate. In the 2010 mid-term elections (with President Obama in the White House), the Democrats lost 63 seats in the House and six in the Senate. Given the trend, it was not a surprise to see the Democrats pick up seats in the House. Going into the election, the Republicans held the ...
0 comments

Phase 2 Completed for APGA Communications Initiative

By Audrey Anderson posted 7 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
Phase 2 of the large-scale communications initiative that APGA has taken the lead on developing is now complete. This phase began early this past summer once the initial Phase 1 was complete. APGA has been working with the public relations firm Porter Novelli for over a year on this initiative; and there were several partners for Phase 2 including Florida Natural Gas Association, Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, Natural Gas Association of Georgia, Oak Ridge Utility District, Southeast Gas and Tennessee Gas Association. APGA would like to thank our partners for their support of this important endeavor for our industry. This initiative that APGA has been working ...
0 comments

EIA Reports Storage Increase of 65 Bcf to Put Working Gas Storage at 3,208 Bcf

By Audrey Anderson posted 7 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
Here is the weekly EIA Summary Report issued on Thursday, November 8, 2018, which reports the week’s storage report highlights for Friday, November 2. A 65 Bcf increase has been reported. Working gas in storage was 3,208 Bcf as of Friday, November 2, 2018, according to EIA estimates. This represents a net increase of 65 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 580 Bcf less than last year at this time and 621 Bcf below the five-year average of 3,829 Bcf. At 3,208 Bcf, total working gas is below the five-year historical range.
0 comments

PHMSA Issues Two Interpretation Letters

By Erin Kurilla posted 7 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
On November 5, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued two interpretation letters in response to questions posed by state pipeline safety program offices. One request focused on the actions an operator must take when identifying corrosion on an unprotected steel distribution pipeline, while the other interpretation was specific to the treatment of farm taps in Kentucky. APGA is closely reviewing both of these interpretations and coordinating with other industry stakeholders to determine what subsequent actions might be necessary. Unfortunately, PHMSA’s interpretation process provides no opportunity for public comment as it ...
0 comments

Third Annual APGA Operations Conference

By Erin Kurilla posted 7 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
Last week in Chattanooga, Tenn., APGA hosted their third consecutive annual Operations Conference. Over 235 attendees were joined by 30 exhibitors. Pat Riley, who is an APGA Board Member, APGA Operations & Safety Committee Chair and General Manager of Gibson County Utility District, facilitated an action-packed program with 30 different presenters that shared their insights, lessons learned, and best practices for all things related to operations and pipeline safety. Keynote speakers included Alan Mayberry, Associate Administrator of Pipeline Safety at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and Jason Montoya, the Bureau Chief ...
0 comments

EIA Reports Storage Increase of 48 Bcf to Put Working Gas Storage at 3,143 Bcf

By Audrey Anderson posted 14 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
Here is the weekly EIA Summary Report issued on Thursday, November 1, 2018, which reports the week’s storage report highlights for Friday, October 26. A 48 Bcf increase has been reported. Working gas in storage was 3,143 Bcf as of Friday, October 26, 2018, according to EIA estimates. This represents a net increase of 48 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 623 Bcf less than last year at this time and 638 Bcf below the five-year average of 3,781 Bcf. At 3,143 Bcf, total working gas is below the five-year historical range.
0 comments

APGA RF Votes to Join GTI’s Center for Methane Research

By Dan Lapato posted 14 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
On October 29, APGA Research Foundation (RF) voted to join the Gas Technology Institute’s (GTI) Center for Methane Research (CMR). The CMR is the preeminent authority on the presence and impacts of methane in the atmosphere with a focus on the interconnected role of natural gas production, delivery and use. The RF has long understood the importance natural gas utilities will play in curbing greenhouse gas emissions. One of the key areas that needs more research is understanding the impacts of methane and role the direct use of natural gas will play in reducing greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. In addition to supporting the CMR, the RF continues to ...
0 comments

APGA Members Meet in Chattanooga

By Dave Schryver posted 14 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
From October 28 to November 1, APGA members met in Chattanooga, Tenn., for the APGA Fall Board and Committee Meetings and the APGA Operations Conference. The meetings began on October 28 with the recently established APGA Media and Public Outreach Committee (MPOC) holding its first in-person meeting. The MPOC was established for the purpose of, among other things, pro-actively conveying the benefits of natural gas direct use and other matters that impact the operation of public natural gas utilities such as pipeline safety, municipal and public gas system ownership, small operator concerns and gas supply. There was a reception on Sunday evening, which was held ...
0 comments

LIHEAP Funds Released

By Dave Schryver posted 14 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
On October 26, the Office of Community Services (OCS) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for the 2019 fiscal year. LIHEAP is a federal block grant program that provides money to low-income individuals/families to help them meet their energy needs. The program receives an annual appropriation from Congress through the Labor and Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill. The funding level provided for fiscal year 2019 was $3.65 billion. APGA is pleased with the increase in funding and had signed on to a letter sent to congressional appropriations committees asking ...
0 comments

APGA Addresses 2018 IAMU Energy Conference

By Bert Kalisch posted 21 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
APGA President and CEO, Bert Kalisch, addressed the Sixth Annual Energy Conference hosted by the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU). Bert highlighted APGA’s advocacy and operational issues that impact the operations of public natural gas utilities. He also focused on the growing list of activities in which APGA is engaged to promote the direct-use of natural gas by residential and commercial customers. Iowa has 51 public natural gas utilities, and all systems are APGA members. APGA congratulates IAMU as it celebrates its 70th anniversary supporting and strengthening Iowa's municipal utility members. IAMU provides an array of services to its member ...
0 comments

Gas Authority Members Visit Capitol Hill

By Audrey Anderson posted 21 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
As members of APGA’s Public Gas Policy Council, elected officials from five Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia member cities traveled to Washington, D.C., in late September to support the federal legislative and regulatory efforts of APGA and the Gas Authority. The group personally met with Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Congressman Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Congressman Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), Congressman Jody Hice (R-Ga.), Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), and Congressman Rob Woodall (R-Ga.). The group also met in the offices of five other members of Congress, ...
0 comments

FERC Commissioner Chatterjee to Assume Chairman Role

By Dave Schryver posted 21 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
It was announced late on October 24 that Chairman McIntyre would, due to health-related issues, step down from his role as Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In 2017, Chairman McIntyre had surgery for a cancerous brain tumor and a letter he sent to the President earlier this week communicated that he is facing a “more serious health setback” that has left him “currently unable to perform the duties of Chairman with the level of focus that the position demands.” The President has designated Commissioner Neil Chatterjee to serve as Chairman. Now former-Chairman McIntyre will remain on FERC as a Commissioner. Commissioner Chatterjee served ...
0 comments

APGA Holds Winter Outlook Webinar

By Dave Schryver posted 21 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
On October 24, Jenny Fordham, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), presented a webinar that provided an overview of the 2018-2019 NGSA winter outlook. This is the 18th year in a row that they have developed a winter outlook. NGSA represents suppliers that produce and market natural gas. In her presentation, Jenny discussed market pressure points, which included: weather; the economy; demand; storage; and production. Jenny discussed projected increases in demand that may come from the residential and commercial sectors as well as in liquefied natural gas exports and in exports via pipeline to Mexico. Jenny ...
0 comments