Washington Gas Wants FERC to Reconsider Cove Point Decision

Washington Gas recently distributed a press release asking FERC to reconsider its decision to allow the Cove Point LNG facility to expand its storage and capacity.

Here's a quote from the press release:

Washington Gas Light Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: WGL), announced that it has requested a rehearing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to modify the commission's decision to authorize the expansion of the Dominion Cove Point liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal owned by Dominion Resources, Inc.

Here's my two cents. I believe Washington Gas is using the wrong venue to challenge Cove Point's gas quality. Washington Gas should revise its gas quality standards with Dominion if the current quality of case is damaging their system. Washington Gas is trying to use the expansion hearing for their own interests and not those of its customers.

Consumers Get a Break As Natural Gas Prices Fall

In a Washington Post article written by Chris Kirkham, it seems natural gas prices have hit a two-year low. Here's a quote from the article:

Washington area residents are seeing relief in their natural gas bills as markets have dipped to two-year lows, just months after high heating bills prompted increased assistance from federal and state governments.

The average natural gas bill in May, June and July for Washington Gas customers in the District, Maryland and Virginia fell $21 compared with the same months last year, according to estimates from the utility provider.

and

So far, the price decline has not been reflected in the longer-term gas contracts that consumers can buy. Deregulation gave consumers the choice to buy gas from utility companies or to shop on the open market for outside gas distributors. The price offered by Washington Gas Energy Services for its one- and two-year gas contracts is, at this point, slightly higher than at this point last year, reflecting the fact that utilities still see risks ahead and are selling off higher-priced gas they agreed to buy before markets calmed down.

Disconnect Pepco and Washington Gas

In an opinion piece written by Peter Rosenstein appearing in the July 7 issue of the Washington Blade, takes Pepco and Washington Gas to task for not offering domestic partner health benefits.

Here's a quote from the opinion piece:

D.C. RESIDENTS WILL note two glaring omissions from the list put out by the Human Rights Campaign of companies offering domestic partner benefits. Patomac Electric Power Co. and Washington Gas Light Co. --— as basic to the lives of gay Washingtonians as turning on the light and heating our homes --— are nowhere to be found.

With so many gay clients and employees, it's a disappointing surprise to learn they'’re not enlightened enough to treat their gay employees equally with their straight employees in the provision of health benefits.

Most of us have little choice in what company provides our electricity or gas. Pepco and Washington Gas have near monopolies and are publicly regulated utilities.

So the time has come that we demand that our elected officials, especially in the more enlightened jurisdictions, demand of these utilities that they begin to offer domestic partner benefits.