Mother Gas

US Court Overturns FERC OK of Cove Point LNG Expansion

2008-09-24T15:20:00.000-04:00

So even though Washington Gas is responsible for their own system's problems, leakage and house explosions, Dominion won't be able to add needed natural gas capacity because Washington Gas can't address their own systems problems fast enough. Nice. Maybe FERC should make Washington Gas address their system in a reasonable amount of time...

A federal district court on July 18 overturned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's approval of a proposed expansion of Dominion Resources' Cove Point LNG installation on the Chesapeake Bay in Cove Point, Md., just south of Baltimore. The US District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia granted Washington Gas Light Co.'s petition for review despite finding that "substantial evidence supports FERC's conclusion that any threat of increased leakage is due to defects in WGL's system."

The court overturned the approval because it did not accept FERC's conclusion that the local distribution company, which serves Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland as well as Washington, DC, can address safety concerns before the project's scheduled November in-service date. The commission did not support the conclusion with sufficient evidence, the court said.

WGL said in its petition that the project, which would significantly increase Cove Point's LNG output, would introduce more LNG into the utility's system. It said that for 2 years after it began receiving a limited amount of unblended LNG from Cove Point at WGL's facilities in Prince George's County, Md., leaks at the facilities increased 16-fold.

WGL also submitted a report to FERC finding the LNG's low- hydrocarbon content caused seals inside its pipe couplings to leak, the decision said. FERC concluded that the leaks occurred because WGL applied hot tar when it installed the pipes decades before.

"We do not dispute that WGL operated its system for decades after applying the hot tar and only experienced high leak rates after it began receiving LNG in PG County. But at the same time, the PG County facilities received LNG for months without experiencing significant leakage, and only suffered those leaks when the weather became cold," the decision said.

WGL said the coupling conditions that exist in PG County also exist in the other 86% of its system and that it would be a decade or longer to install replacements. While reinjecting he avy hydrocarbons into the LNG could stop some leaks, the efficacy of such measures was uncertain, it added.

FERC's finding that WGL had time to correct any remaining problems was not sufficient because it was based only on repairs in PG County and did not consider how the utility might repair the rest of the system once the expansion begins operations in a few more months, the court said.

Dominion is proceeding with the Cove Point expansion, a spokesman said on July 21. "In key respects, the court affirmed FERC's ruling and agreed with its decision, including finding that the leaks were results of defects in WGL's system, and Dominion should not have to pay repairs. We're confident that the expansion is safe and in the public interest. We also expect that FERC will act expeditiously so that the Cove Point expansion will proceed on schedule," he told OGJ.

Dominion Cove Point LNG LP's Cove Point LNG installation. Photo from Dominion.

Court: D.C. PSC can withhold utility revenue data

2008-09-24T15:19:00.000-04:00

Too bad for transparency and what's best for consumers...

The D.C. Court of Appeals has ruled the D.C. Public Service Commission is not obligated to publish the locally generated revenues of large utilities such as Verizon, Pepco and Washington Gas Light Co.

The Office of the People's Counsel, a utility watchdog, had sued to force the release of the information, saying it was needed to determine if customers were entitled to a rebate under laws regulating fees. The commission argued the revenue data can be proprietary.

The decision doesn't necessarily end the litigation. Associate Judge Phyllis Thompson said in the legal opinion that the people's counsel can still file a Freedom of Information Act request for the data.

Washington Gas: Absurd

2008-04-18T15:53:00.000-04:00

Arthur Delaney at the Washington City Paper's City Desk blog writes about how he's been receiving his neighbor's bill and he can't get Washington Gas to fix the problem.

Washington Gas is making bad service into a form of art. Since November, they’ve sent me two bills every month–one for me, and one with my name on it for the nice lady who lives in the apartment upstairs. She and I verified that it’s her gas bill by checking the meter numbers on the two bills and comparing them to the numbers on our meters. Right after I moved in, she says, Washington Gas sent her a refund check and discontinued her direct payment program. She was baffled.

I’ve explained the problem to Washington Gas call-takers five times. On Mar. 12, after several calls from me, my upstairs neighbor, and even the management company, Washington Gas sent a guy to check the meter numbers. He confirmed the mix-up. I figured that had to be the end of it, but yesterday, I received my neighbor’s bill once again. Like the last two, it says DISCONTINUANCE NOTICE on it. It’s for over $1,000 and there’s no way for her to pay it.

Washington Gas is just hell bent on sending me my poor neighbor’s bill. It’s Theatre of the Absurd over here. It’s like something from a play by Samuel Becket or Harold Pinter. It’s crazy! I explained the problem to a Washington Gas call-taker again yesterday–now I’m escalating the situation with public whining.

Gas meter misreading even more painful to fix

2008-03-24T13:48:00.000-04:00

Dan Thanh Dang writes in the Baltimore Sun about how a small business owner was charge $14,000 over his normal bill and how it took almost three months to resolve.

"My previous month's reading on Dec. 22 was 88,085 therms," Le said. "On Jan. 22, the meter was reported to be 99,159 therms. ... The reading should have read 89,159. The technician misread the most significant digit from an 8 to a 9. It made perfect sense to me."

It made perfect sense to customer service rep Edwin, too, when Le explained the discrepancy. Edwin promised to send a revised bill, but two weeks later, nothing showed up. So Le got on the horn again and spoke with CSR Radi, who said that CSR Edwin did note the misreading in the case file, so Radi would send it.

A revised bill never came. So on Feb. 19, Le called once more. CSR Nelle told him there was nothing she could do. He just had to wait for his next reading.

On Feb. 22, the same technician arrived to read the bakery's meter. That same day, Le called WashGas again and this time CSR Johnny did something none of the other CSRs could do. He changed Le's first meter reading to 89,159, which would reflect the bakery's prior average use of about 1,103 therms per month.

That fix took care of things - but only temporarily. The problem got more absurd when Le promptly received a second January-February bill for $15,767.79, and a revised January bill for $1,435.98.

Le spent another month struggling to fix this problem himself. He tried sending WashGas digital photos of his meter, but was told there was no "customer service e-mail account" to receive it. He begged WashGas to scrap the prior readings and send a supervisor out to re-read his meter.

The company did send someone on March 3 - the same technician who misread the meter earlier.

"The hoops I have to jump through are just tremendous," Le said. "Once I convince customer service to correct my bill, the meter reader comes along and reports it incorrectly again so the problem continues. I don't know what else to do. I don't want to pay a bill that isn't right and I don't want my gas turned off."

In most cases, billing disputes with a utility fall under the Maryland Public Service Commission. When the PSC receives a billing complaint, it forwards it to the utility, which then must provide information back to the PSC on your account.

You have rights under the Code of Maryland Regulations. If you believe your meter is inaccurate, you may ask the utility to test your meter at no charge. You can also file a written request and a $10 fee to the PSC's engineering division for a "referee test," which sends reps from the PSC and utility out to test your meter. You get your money back if your meter is found to be inaccurate.

The PSC also says that in the event of a billing dispute, you are required to "pay the undisputed portion of your bill" while the agency or the utility is investigating the complaint.

Even though Le had not yet contacted the PSC, he did take all the proper steps to resolve this with the company.

I called WashGas on Le's behalf March 4. One day later, spokesman Ruben Rodriguez called back with a tidy resolution.

"We're sending a supervisor out there to read his meter," Rodriguez said. "His bill will be adjusted. He will not have to pay his $14,000 bill. It was a mistake on our part and we apologize for any inconvenience to Mr. Le."

The apology is a good step, but WashGas may want to re-examine why things got that far.

It's inexcusable that none of the people Le spoke to referred this obvious error to a supervisor. It's maddening that there was no consistency to customer service, permitting one rep to change a meter reading when another rep told him it was impossible. It's a shame no one told Le he could send his letter and photos to custsrv@washgas.com. And finally, it makes no sense to send the same technician a third time to read a meter after he apparently misread it twice.

Common sense and employee empowerment would have cleared this issue up in a timelier manner.

Le confirmed that a supervisor did show up March 5, but he's waiting for his next bill to make sure the fix is permanent.

"I'm going to keep an eye on it," Le said. "It's a big relief, but it's unfortunate that it took this long to correct this problem."

At least Le's blood pressure was going back down, much like his adjusted and far more acceptable $2,703.61 bill for January and February.

Residents support natural gas bill

2008-03-24T13:32:00.000-04:00

In an article written by Maya T. Prabhu and appearing in a Gazette newspaper, it looks like the Chillum LNG facility may soon be as good as dead.

Chillum-area residents hope the General Assembly will pass a law that would protect their community, as well as neighborhoods throughout the county, from liquefied natural gas facilities that could be built near their homes.

Washington Gas owns a 21-acre site on Chillum Road near Queens Chapel Road, which is less than a block away from the West Hyattsville Metro station. At a House Economic Matters Committee meeting Monday, officials said the legislation, House Bill 1043, specifically targets that site. There is no liquefied natural gas facility on that site yet, but Washington Gas would like to build one. If the committee gives the bill a favorable report, it will move on to the House for consideration.

"[This bill] is written specifically to create a barrier for Washington Gas to gain approval to build an LNG storage facility at our Chillum property," said Steven Jumper, director of regional public policy for Washington Gas. "More importantly, this bill hinders our company in meeting our statutory obligation to the citizens and businesses of Maryland to provide safe and reliable supply to them at a reasonable cost."

But residents say the facility could potentially be unsafe to the surrounding communities if anything went wrong, and could potentially draw terrorists.

The bill, proposed by Del. Jolene Ivey (D-Dist. 47) of Cheverly and the Prince George’s County delegation, would require facilities to meet stricter standards for the placement. It would prohibit LNG facilities from being built in Prince George’s and require that the facility be outside an acceptable separation distance from any residence, calculated by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development safety standards.

Washington Gas quietly installs minor rate hike

2008-01-09T09:25:00.000-05:00

The DC Examiner brings to light Washington Gas's rate hike for Washington, D.C. residents.

A rate hike for Washington Gas’ 151,000 D.C. customers went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, but the increases are so negligible most consumers probably won’t even notice a difference in their monthly statements.

The D.C. Public Service Commission approved the amended rate system Friday, though Washington Gas had yet to publicly announce the changes as of Monday morning. The increase, which is expected to generate an additional $1.4 million in revenue, is “reasonable and necessary for the company to meet the operating expenses and capital costs of providing reliable service in the District of Columbia,” the commission wrote.

Washington Gas had originally sought a much more substantial set of increases that would have bulked up its annual D.C. revenues by $20 million. But after a year of fighting virtually everyone, the company settled for a minimal increase. The company also agreed not to bid for another rate increase until 2011.

Here are the impacts of the rate increase:

» The monthly “customer charge,” a standard fee tied to the cost of maintaining Washington Gas facilities, will increase a dime, from $7.85 to $7.95 per month for residential consumers.

» The distribution charge, the fee the company bills for sending gas through its underground pipelines, will rise from 38.09 cents per therm to 38.73 cents per therm for most residential customers.

Washington Gas backs off rate hike

2007-12-26T13:13:00.000-05:00

Michael Neibauer reports for the Washington Examiner's Web site, Washington Gas will drastically reduce the rate increase for Washington, D.C. customers.

Washington Gas Light Co. has agreed to drastically scale back proposed rate increases for its D.C. consumers, walking away from a yearlong case with next to nothing, under a settlement agreement reached last week with the District government and other parties.

The 8.1 percent rate increase that Washington Gas sought for its residential customers has been slashed to less than 1 percent, according to details of the deal released by the D.C. Public Service Commission, the District's utility regulator. The proposed 5.1 percent increase for commercial gas clients is now 1.7 percent.

The initial rate increase application filed in November 2006 would have garnered the company $20 million more a year. Now, it's looking at a token $1.4 million divided among its 151,000 natural-gas customers, minus the $1.3 million it cost to litigate the case.

Here's a money quote:

“The settlement's about as close to ‘We never should have filed this damn case; now let's get the hell out of here’ as you can get,” said People's Counsel Elizabeth Noel, who represents D.C. residents in utility matters.

Shaw Residents Hope for Consistent Holiday Heat

2007-12-26T13:07:00.000-05:00

WJLA ABC News Web site reports all that residents in D.C.'s Shaw neighborhood want for Christmas is reliable natural gas to keep the heat on.

Dozens of people in D.C.'s Shaw neighborhood have a Christmas wish - that their heat stays on. Chronic gas-line glitches mean chilly nights for people living near 9th and Q streets Northwest. Now that colder weather has arrived, the neighborhood hopes Washington Gas will fix the problem soon.

Ralph Williams still talks about the recent night when his home on Columbia Street NW lost its gas and heat.

"It was unpleasant, that's for sure," he said.

Over on Q Street, Ray Milefsky has had it happen to him over over again.

ABC 7 News myTAKE - What's Your Opinion?"This is the fifth time in two weeks," he recalled.

The problem - vintage gas lines below certain streets fill with water when it rains. The fluid mixes with the gas and gums up the lines into houses. Ray Milefsky constantly checks his burner. Lately he confesses he's afraid to leave his house.

"The pilots will go out, the house will fill with gas as well as the heat will go off," he said.

A Washington Gas spokesperson says the utility is aware of the outages and plans to replace antiquated lines. On columbia street residents say workers began work, but then delayed it.

"It's also bad because it's the holidays and the guys really haven't been around to continue working on this," said Meladie Edmund.

Adding to the residents anger are the 'no parking until mid-February' notices that line the streets, even though no repair work is underway.

Washington Gas refused to offer a specific timeline for when repair work will resume, saying only sometime in the near future.

A year later, little movement on rate hikes

2007-12-14T14:44:00.000-05:00

In an article written by Michael Neibauer in the Examiner highlights Pepco and Washington Gas's rate increases submitted in late 2006.

Pepco is seeking a 7.79 percent increase for power distribution, which would raise the average electric bill by about $6 a month for the company’s 235,000 clients. Washington Gas is looking for a 7.7 percent boost, which would add roughly $8.47 per month to the average residential heating bill for its 151,000 natural gas customers.

A decision in the Washington Gas matter will have to wait until at least 2008. The commission this week postponed evidentiary hearings after the People’s Counsel claimed it had run out of money to argue against the increase.

Washington Gas had previously been fined $350,000 by the commission for failing to turn over documents tied to the case, which led to a four-month delay in the proceeding.

It looks like Washington Gas is its own worst enemy when it comes to lining the pockets of its investors.

Washington Gas has wider quarterly loss

2007-11-11T18:59:00.000-05:00

Jeff Clabaugh writes in the Washington Business Journal about Washington Gas's growing quarterly loss.

The District-based utility had a fiscal fourth-quarter net loss of $13.5 million, or 27 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $11.9 million, or 24 cents per share in the final quarter of 2006. The utility usually reports a loss for the summer quarter, due to lower demand for natural gas.

On another note, it looks like Washington Gas's HR and purchasing employees are out on the street and payroll, IT and customer service jobs will be cut by the end of the year. Merry Christmas! Employees get the lump of coal and management gets fat bonuses and stock options.

I'd suggest the rest of Washington Gas should unionize as soon as possible so someone other than the CEO will be looking out for their best interests.

It's pretty crazy to think that with the cost savings Washington Gas is hoping to rake in, the gas utility is still seeking rate increases in Maryland and D.C. The utility estimates it'll make as much as $2.18. This is good news for shareholders, but bad news for employees and customers. Washington Gas management is slashing the utility's ability to do its job, deliver safe and reliable natural gas.

Council condemns Washington Gas outsourcing

2007-11-07T16:35:00.000-05:00

It's great to see local government officials stand up to our gas utility. The following was reported in the Prince George's Gazette.

Prince George’s County Council members voted unanimously last week to condemn Washington Gas Light Co.’s plan to turn over 300 local positions to a Bermuda-based company.

In a resolution passed Oct. 3, members said the utility’s plan to outsource call center operations to Accenture Ltd. would harm customers and workers.

Washington Gas announced the deal in July to have workers in Texas, the Philippines and Canada field customer calls on everything from gas leak complaints to billing inquiries. The move will allow the company to save about $170 million in costs over the next decade.

About 250 area human resource, customer service, finance and technology workers will be laid off, while an additional 50 vacant positions will be eliminated.

In addition to the loss of jobs, council members said the move creates ‘‘deep concern that workers thousands of miles away could be handling calls dealing with dangerous situations” and voiced fears that foreign workers would have access to customer financial information.

In its resolution, the council asked the Maryland Public Service Commission, which regulates the utility company, to ‘‘demand that Washington Gas Light Company maintain the quality customer services that we have already paid for.”

A spokesman for the company declined to comment.

So I have several questions the Maryland Public Service Commission should ask Washington Gas during their next rate case.

How will the outsourcing of responsibilities of local Washington Gas employees to Texas, the Philippines and Canada improve anything except the bottom line?
Are the lives of Washington Gas customers worth the saving of millions of dollars that will enrich stockholders and not the community?
Will the savings from the outsourcing be used to improve the gas distribution system or to line the pockets of Washington Gas executives and institutional shareholders?

It's a shame to see Washington Gas now focus its knife on the support functions of the utility. There isn't any more left to cut on the operations side...

I have an idea for Washington Gas to save a ton of money. Why doesn't Washington Gas move from its ritzy headquarters office at the corner of Constitution and New Orleans. I'm sure Washington Gas could save millions of dollars a year at a more modest building. But wait, then the executives would have to suffer too.

The biggest problem I see at Washington Gas is that the senior management team is making all the employees doing the work suffer and bear the brunt of the cost cutting, while senior management sits in huge posh offices overlooking the Capital building.

Washington Gas employees and customers should demand that the utility's management team lower their salaries and extravagant stock options in order to ensure the safe and reliable distribution of natural gas in our communities. There isn't anything left to cut at Washington Gas, except for executive pay and compensation!

Better reporting, maintenance recommended for gas utilities

2007-10-15T16:46:00.000-04:00

The review of what caused the house explosion in 2005 was released reports the Prince George's Gazette.

The report recommended that the county require an annual ‘‘State of the System” report from Washington Gas and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. outlining their gas system condition and all improvement plans. The report also recommended an annual report of leaks be submitted from those gas providers.

‘‘It is a serious matter ... We pretty much are dealing with a self [enforced] industry,” Estepp said. ‘‘The current practice of allowing the industry to police itself ... we believe should be phased out.”

The report requested that at least three additional inspectors be added under the state Public Service Commission to monitor natural gas distribution. It also recommended giving the county the authority to increase fines from $1,000 to $5,000 for violations of local ordinances. The increase would be aimed at punishing contractors who hit and rupture gas lines but are rarely held accountable.

With the boat loads of money Washington Gas is about to save after outsourcing their customer service department, I think it's time the customers of Washington Gas demand the company outsource its management team. With two house explosions in two years, when is enough enough? Washington Gas does not have their customers' best interests in mind. All the company cares about is rewarding their stockholders.

I hope to god no one will get hurt during the next house explosion, but it's unavoidable because the utility has cut its operations too much to maintain safe and reliable gas distribution within our communities. Will the next disaster be in your neighborhood?

Faced With Fine, WGL Hands Over Copy of Contract

2007-10-15T16:38:00.000-04:00

Money quotes from the Washington Post article:

Earlier, WGL had asked for some of the costs in the Accenture contract to be considered in its pending application for a $20.5 million rate increase. That opened the door for the Office and Professional Employees International Union, which represents 160 of the workers who are being laid off, to ask the commission to demand a look at the contract. The commission agreed.

The District's Office of the People's Counsel said it was only the third time the commission had issued sanctions against a local utility. "Washington Gas has flaunted its arrogance before the commission for far too long," Elizabeth A. Noel of People's Counsel said in a statement. "The company has insulted the commission at the expense of ratepayers," she said, adding that the fine was "a clear sign the PSC is standing up to Washington Gas."

I'm glad to see someone is standing up to Washington Gas. We need someone with a backbone to demand accountability from our gas monopoly since the gas utility is only interested in enriching its shareholders on the backs of its employees. When will company's realize their greatest asset they have is their employees. They cannot be replaced like tires on a car. They hold decades of experience. You can't teach someone in a far off country the ins and outs of customer service to a unique community. Now Washington Gas wants its customers to pay for to layoff their neighbors and putting cash in investors' pockets. For shame...

Washington Gas and Light asks D.C. commission to rescind $350,000 penalty

2007-10-08T12:42:00.000-04:00

Michael Neibauer writes thin the Examiner:

Washington Gas and Light has asked the District's utility regulator to erase a $350,000 penalty levied against it for ignoring orders to fully disclose an outsourcing contract, arguing the fine is “harsh” and “inappropriate.”

Disclosure of the Accenture contract was required as part of a Washington Gas rate case. It is proposing a 7.7 percent rate increase for its 151,000 D.C. customers. The Office of the People's Counsel and the union representing Washington Gas employees sought the paperwork as part of the case, which is on hold.

The $350 million Accenture deal is expected to save Washington Gas $170 million over the next decade. Roughly 150 union jobs will be lost in the process.

My question to Washington Gas is, why does the gas company need to raise rates if it'll save $170 million over 10 years?
I believe the $170 million should be redistributed to the company's customers instead of the rich stock holders.

Family Lucky To Be Alive After House Explosion

2007-09-24T11:39:00.000-04:00

Has Washington Gas's cost cutting measures gone too far? Public officials should take notice that members of their communities are at risk due to haphazard cuts within the gas utility's operational units. Too bad the support side of the business is now feeling the pain. When will Washington Gas learn that their customers and employees' safety are more important than excessive executive pay and shareholder return!

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. But, neighbors said they called the Washington Gas company to report the smell of gas in the area shortly before the explosion.

News4 reported that a neighbor called to report the smell at about 8:37 p.m. on Saturday. At about 9:40 p.m., a technician arrived to the area but found nothing and left after about 18 minutes. The house exploded about 20 to 30 minutes later, officials said.

"I think the Washington Gas, when a neighbor called, they should have came out to check. I think they should have gone into every single house to see where the smell was coming from," said Brenda Pannebecker, the woman whose house was destroyed in the blast.

"The guy could have stayed here. He could have called for backup. They could have shut the gas off. They could have prevented this all from happening," said neighbor Randy Sull.

Washington Gas to Issue Va. Refunds

2007-09-24T11:35:00.000-04:00

Washington Gas Light is set to issue refunds to its residential and commercial gas customers in Virginia after agreeing to lower the rates it has been charging since February, the company said last week.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission, which oversees utility rates in the state, said the average refund for residential customers would be $16.50. Washington Gas Light would not confirm that figure.

I actually called the Virginia State Corporation Commission earlier this year asking how Washington Gas can charge customers a new rate before they're actually approved by the state commission. The state commission forwarded me to my state representative who forwarded my question to Washington Gas. I would've been shocked if I actually received a response from the gas company.

It's good to see a monopoly held to task for fleecing its customers.

Washington Gas rate increase talks stalled by papers dispute

2007-08-21T14:47:00.000-04:00

It looks like the Office of the People’s Counsel and the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 2 are giving Washington Gas a run for their money. Union lawyers and D.C. People’s Counsel Elizabeth Noël are trying to see why Washington Gas needs a rate increase of about $20 million a year if they're going to be saving over $170 million during the 10 year deal with Accenture.

I agree with Noël:

"Noël said Wednesday that outsourcing customer service functions is closely tied to the “company’s ability to provide safe, adequate and reliable service at rates that are just and reasonable.”

Whatever is in the Accenture contract, she said, Washington Gas is apparently willing to throw away its $20.5 million rate increase to protect it.

Washington Gas & Light Reaches New Rate Settlement

2007-08-06T10:58:00.000-04:00

The AP reports:

The settlement says that rates will increase by $3.9 million annually. The press release states that it is designed to allow investments in system maintenance and improvement projects.

The settlement also says that Washington Gas and Light will freeze its billed delivery rates for the next for years in the Commonwealth. The company will also be implementing a mechanism called the Weather Normalization Adjustment mechanism. Along with this, they will also introduce a Performance Based Rate plan that will share cost savings with customers.

Great, Washington Gas gets more money on the backs of their employees and enriches their shareholders over the better interest of their customers. I'm sure this will help their stock price.

Resistance mounts against Washington Gas cuts

2007-07-20T13:01:00.000-04:00

In an article written by Judson Berger for Maryland Gazette Newspapers highlights the growing resistance to all of Washington Gas's recent outsourcing activities.

A decision by utility provider Washington Gas to outsource 300 jobs has triggered criticism from activists and union members who say the move will not only eliminate local jobs but also endanger customers, whose gas leak calls could be taken by operators outside the U.S.

Washington Gas representatives say their $350 million contract with Bermuda-based Accenture, signed June 19, is binding. But the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 2, which represents the workers, is attempting to stall the deal by petitioning against any rate increases. The utility provider has applied for rate hikes to defray up-front costs of the arrangement.

‘‘It’s about safety,” said union president Dan Dyer. ‘‘I’m hoping it’s not too late ... We don’t believe that the dispatching can possibly be as effective, or well-done, 1,000 miles away.”

The bulk of the jobs at stake under the agreement are customer service positions, which Accenture could send not only to call centers in Virginia but also to Canada and the Philippines.

Local lawmakers haven’t decided how they’ll respond to the move, but members of the Prince George’s House delegation grilled Washington Gas on the decision during a briefing Tuesday in Laurel.

‘‘Outsourcing is ... a dirty word in Annapolis,” said delegation chairwoman Del. Barbara Frush (D-Dist. 21) of Beltsville. ‘‘I know others will not also look on this kindly.”

Del. Anne Healey (D-Dist. 22) of Hyattsville said she was concerned that emergency calls could be picked up by service representatives who don’t know or understand the community.

But Washington Gas division head Luanne Gutermuth said Accenture’s service staff are trained to handle emergency calls, and that they wouldn’t be handling them until the company is confident in the process linking the call centers and the local emergency dispatchers.

Del. Tawanna Gaines (D-Dist. 22) of Berwyn Heights and Del. Veronica Turner (D-Dist. 26) of Camp Springs also attended the hearing. Their questions were especially pointed, given the recent problems Washington Gas has had with natural gas leaks in Prince George’s County.

The company has been working to repair the problem in about a 100-square-mile area of Prince George’s ever since a leak caused a District Heights home to explode in March 2005. The company traced the problem to what it said were deteriorating rubber seals within the pipelines’ couplings.

As of June, the company had replaced 23,053 of the 30,000 problem couplings and fixed 162 of the 175 miles of gas mains it has slated for restoration. But residents are still asked to be vigilant about calling in potential leaks.

‘‘If I went home and smelled gas in my house, I’d feel safer calling someone in my area, rather than calling someone in Canada or Manila,” said union staff representative Sarah Stough.

Washington Gas has rate increases pending before public service commissions in Washington, Virginia and Maryland, but the union has been campaigning against them in an attempt to make it more difficult financially to execute the outsourcing arrangement.

The company estimates the deal will cost $29 million in fiscal 2007 and 2008.

Dyer said the union has also filed an unfair labor practice charge against Washington Gas before the National Labor Relations Board, claiming the company would not negotiate with the union regarding the decision to outsource.

Washington Gas serves more than 166,000 customers in Prince George’s County, and about 215,000 customers in Montgomery County.

Local activist Dottie McNeill, past president of the Chillum Ray Citizens Association, said she suspected Washington Gas had turned to outsourcing because it was unable to muscle through a proposal to build a liquefied natural gas facility in Chillum.

‘‘It’s just sad,” she said.

The company had wanted to build the 12-million-gallon storage tank so it could save money by buying gas in bulk. But nearby residents complained that the potentially volatile facility was too close to homes, and the County Council effectively killed the proposal in May 2006 when it approved a zoning measure prohibiting fuel tanks in that area. The decision was again upheld before the council in October.

The matter is in litigation in Prince George’s Circuit Court.

Washington Gas spokeswoman Lorre Bowman said in an e-mail to The Gazette that both the LNG facility and the outsourcing were ‘‘carefully planned initiatives that help us provide safe and reliable service to customers and keep costs under control.”

As for concerns about the level of service customers can expect from overseas call centers, Bowman said, ‘‘We anticipate enhanced customer service. We own, operate and maintain a safe and reliable pipeline system, will continue to do so and continue to respond to natural gas emergencies 24⁄7.”

Washington Gas plans to pay $9 million in severance and benefits costs during fiscal 2007 and 2008. The layoffs are expected to begin in the fall, and continue through next summer. But Bowman said those employees will have an opportunity to apply for other jobs within Washington Gas or Accenture. Fifty of the 300 positions to be cut are vacant, according to the company.

The contract with Accenture is expected to save Washington Gas $170 million over the 10-year contract.

But union representatives have raised serious concerns about Accenture as well.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission in March, for instance, canceled its $899 million contract with Accenture to help manage health and social benefits programs for low-income residents. The decision was made following complaints that Accenture’s workers were losing applications and providing poor service.

A representative from Accenture could not be reached for comment.

Healey, who had opposed the LNG facility, said the outsourcing contract was ‘‘just another example of [globalization] coming home to roost.”

‘‘If they can reconsider, I hope that they will,” she said.

Alexander Rodriguez, a Democratic Central Committee member and president of Communities Aligned for Progress, said the Washington Gas contract only compounds the trouble Prince George’s County has in attracting and retaining jobs.

‘‘It’s a bad deal. What we need to do as a community ... is bargain, strike a deal.”

Washington Gas Actions Questioned in Va. Blaze

2007-06-29T10:56:00.000-04:00

"We basically sat there and watched our house burn down while Washington Gas fumbled around not knowing what to do," Larry Stroud said.

Prince William County firefighters contained the blaze soon after arriving early May 15. Deputy Chief Andrew Frizzle said that when firefighters saw that the ground in front of the house was on fire, they knew that an underground gas line had ruptured and would continue to feed the blaze. The fire burned from just after 1 a.m. until after 5 a.m., when a Washington Gas work crew from Maryland turned off the gas to the block.

"To call it a total loss is probably an understatement," said Frizzle, who oversees two Nokesville stations.

Is this the service our increased Washington Gas rates are paying for? I hope not.

The first Washington Gas representative arrived an hour after firefighters called, about 3:15 a.m., and had to call for a work crew, Frizzle said. At that time, the closest crew was in Forestville.

"If anything, the gas company was ill-prepared," Stroud said. "The firefighters took some initiative . . . and took over."

Fire crews borrowed shovels from neighbors and began digging where the Washington Gas representative thought the gas lines were in hopes of finding the valve to shut off the gas, Frizzle said. Firefighters dug until a Washington Gas work crew arrived about 5 a.m.

"We had the personnel there, and we tried to mitigate it ourselves, and we were unsuccessful at that," Frizzle said.

Fire departments regularly call Washington Gas to shut off the gas to houses when they are unable to reach the meter, as happened at the Stroud home. Washington Gas rotates crews across the Washington area every night, and Frizzle said that it took "longer than we would normally expect" for the utility team to arrive.

Washington Gas officials said the average response time is 25 minutes. In this case, the dispatcher gave the first technician "incorrect information, which prevented him from being able to resolve the matter quickly," Washington Gas spokeswoman Kimberly Greer said in an e-mail.

"We have taken appropriate action with the individual involved and deeply regret the fact that our mistake delayed the resolution of this incident," Greer wrote.

Frizzle said that the house was probably lost before the gas leak but that because the fire burned for about five hours, the fire marshal has been unable to determine its cause.

Neighbors are concerned something similar could happen to their homes.

"As a resident here, that terrifies me," Kim Simons said. "There was nothing -- it was just a charred foundation."

The Strouds have rented a home nearby and are considering legal action.

"We don't have anything negative to say" about the firefighters, Stroud said. "With the gas company, there is genuine concern."

Outsourcing Will Slash 300 Washington Gas Jobs

2007-06-29T10:43:00.000-04:00

So if Washington Gas is cutting 300 jobs and saving $170 million why do Washington Gas customers need pay higher rates?

Too bad Washington Gas told their employees about a year ago that they weren't looking to outsource jobs when they brought in consultants. It's kinda like the movie Office Space with the two Bobs.

I wonder what function will be axed next? Human Resources?

In a move that will eliminate 300 positions, Washington Gas Light said yesterday that it had hired an outsourcing firm to handle information technology, customer service and other back-office duties.

The natural gas company projects it will save about $170 million in capital and operational expenses over the life of the $350 million, 10-year contract with Accenture, a Bermuda-based consulting and outsourcing firm, said Washington Gas spokeswoman Kimberly Greer.

Accenture will redistribute jobs from the gas company to its many centers, including those in Springfield, Reston, Canada and the Philippines, where it plans to handle data-processing work, said Keith Mueller, managing director of Accenture business services for utilities.

Of the 300 positions to be eliminated, 50 are vacant. Employees in the remaining jobs will be offered similar jobs with Accenture, transferred to other WGL departments or let go. Those in the latter group will receive 12 weeks of severance pay and will have access to career-counseling services. The company employs 1,605 people.

Labor union representatives expressed outrage and promised to fight the cuts.

"Shipping this critical local work out of town is simply madness," said Josh Williams, president of the AFL-CIO's Metropolitan Washington Council, an umbrella group for 200 union locals. "Does anyone seriously think this work can be done better for the energy consumers of metropolitan Washington by sending it away to newly hired and newly trained staff, possibly half a world away?"

Dave Levinson, a lawyer for the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 2, which represents about 50 of the jobs targeted for elimination, said the union would seek to block Washington Gas's request before the D.C. Public Service Commission to raise rates, arguing that the company planned to make customers pay the transition costs.

Washington Gas said it expected to pay $29 million in one-time costs over the next two fiscal years to make the change, including about $9 million in severance and benefits and $20 million in upgrades and other transaction costs. The company also will purchase $16.4 million worth of equipment and software from Accenture affiliate Proquire as part of the deal.

Greer said those costs have already been factored into the $170 million in savings the company hopes to eventually realize.

"We considered pretty much every 'what if,' and we're positive that we can work to the benefit of both parties," Greer said.

Washington Gas inks new contract with union

2007-05-31T14:44:00.000-04:00

Washington Gas officials have reached an agreement on a new five-year contract with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 96.

The union approved the contract May 11, with more than 80 percent of the vote, according to D.C.-based Washington Gas, a utility that delivers natural gas to more than 1 million customers in the Washington area. More than 600 of Washington Gas' 1,606 employees are Local 96 members.

The new contract will be effective upon its ratification through May 31, 2012. The old contract would have expired May 31 of this year, according to Washington Gas.

Looks like Washington Gas is getting rid of their pensions. I wonder who's going to loose their Pension next.

Washington Gas seeks rate increase in Maryland

2007-05-08T13:50:00.000-04:00

From the Washington Business Journal, it looks like Washington Gas wants increases in all three local areas it does business. Why is Washington Gas asking to make more money when they're slashing costs and outsourcing wide swathes of the organization?

Washington Gas has filed an application with Maryland regulators to increase its rates.

The proposal, which must be approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, would increase Washington Gas' overall revenue generated in Maryland annually by $33.8 million, a 4.4 percent jump. Typical residential customers would see an increase of about 5.62 percent on their gas bill, which comes out to an average of $5.70 per month.

"The existing rates no longer reflect our costs of providing utility service in Maryland," says Washington Gas Chairman and CEO James DeGraffenreidt in a statement.

Yeah, right! here's my take:

"The existing rates no longer make our investors or board of directors wealthy enough, so we're asking our customers to pay more for less services," said Washington Gas Chairman and CEO James DeGraffenreidt in a statement

Bill on gas sites would not affect Chillum

2007-05-08T13:48:00.000-04:00

From the Maryland Business Gazette:

A bill to give state and local governments the authority to veto the sites of liquefied natural gas facilities has been introduced by Maryland U.S. Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, but it would not affect plans for a natural gas storage site in Chillum.

Darn.

Washington Gas Installs Wrong Meter and Regulators at Loudoun County Jail

2007-03-16T14:22:00.000-04:00

I wonder is this is due to the budget cuts and outsourcing at Washington Gas?

Another problem that has already been fixed involved some of the heating systems in the jail shutting off. Washington Gas and county representatives determined that the wrong meter and regulators were installed, resulting in a gas supply shortage. Washington Gas corrected the problem.

I hope this isn't a glimpse at what's to come...

Union Protests Gas Rate Hike to Raise Outsourcing Issue

2007-02-22T14:12:00.000-05:00

It looks like Washington Gas has already started charging Virginia customers for a rate increase that hasn't even been approved by the Commonwealth.

The company, which provides natural gas to nearly 1 million customers in Maryland, Virginia and the District, has not asked for a rate increase since 2003. "There has been inflation, additional compliance-related expenses, including Sarbanes-Oxley and the Pipeline Safety Act, and a decline in natural gas use by customers. Those are really our reasons for a rate increase," said Jan Davis, a company spokeswoman. Customers in Virginia may notice a slight increase in their bills starting this week, but if Virginia regulators reject the proposed increase, customers will receive a refund.

How arrogant does Washington Gas think they are? They're cutting costs and outsourcing major internal units and still asking for more money from their customers. So I am also glad to see Dan Dyer, OPEIU's Local 2 president, stand up to Washington Gas and intervene in its rate cases.

All Virginia customers of Washington Gas should call the company today and demand that their money be refunded immediately. If the company does not refund our money now, then it should then return our money with interest if and when their rate hike is denied.

Washington Gas does not have our best interests in mind. The company only focuses on making money and rewarding its shareholders while shafting their employees and putting their customers in danger.

Washington Gas Parent Company Named Among the Top 100 U.S. Corporate Citizens for 4th Consecutive Year

2007-02-22T13:59:00.000-05:00

Is this a joke that WGL Holdings was named one of the 100 best U.S. Corporate Citizens for the fourth year in a row?

"We enjoy a long-standing tradition of responsible corporate citizenship, built on our vision of achieving excellence for customers, investors and employees; civic responsibility; and priority setting for today and tomorrow," said James H. DeGraffenreidt Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of WGL Holdings. "When others notice our dedication to our vision, it underscores our beliefs."

You'll notice the order of importance WGL Holdings CEO James DeGraffenreidt gives his employees. They're dead last behind customers and investors. It's hard to believe a company striving to line the pockets of its shareholders on the backs of their employees by outsourcing their jobs and cutting costs so much as to make it hard or near impossible to ensure the safety of their distribution system.

Business Ethics said the companies were ranked on performance in eight stakeholder categories: shareholders, community, governance, diversity, employees, environment, human rights, and product.

You'll also notice WGL Holdings mentions shareholders before community and employees... I am also surprised to see Business Ethics name WGL Holdings on their list, since the WGL Holdings has not split their Chairman of the Board and CEO positions. I personally believe the company would be more ethical and act in the best interests of its employees and customers if the Chairman of the Board and CEO were two different people. I hope this year's shareholder referendum gains more steam, or see if the majority owners of WGL Holdings, investment company's, try to ensure their profits.

Community group opposes rate-hike request by Washington Gas

2007-02-14T14:39:00.000-05:00

I'm glad organizations are starting to unite to oppose Washington Gas's greed and mismanagement. Why does the company need to increase rates when it's outsourcing most of its internal functions to cut costs. I don't see why the company needs to increase rates when they are lowering operating costs, other than to line their shareholder's pockets on the backs of their customers.

A community coalition led by the union representing almost 300 workers at Washington Gas has filed to intervene in a rate-increase request.

The coalition, led by the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 2, based in Silver Spring, is opposing a request by Washington Gas for a 7.7 percent rate increase from the D.C. Public Service Commission.

Washington Gas is a unit of D.C.-based WGL Holdings (NYSE: WGL).

The coalition is expected to include members such as Casa de Maryland and several labor unions. It is taking out ads in The Washington Post and elsewhere to get its message across.

"We are disgusted and outraged that Washington Gas ... now wants to raise rates on the backs of local customers and their own workers," says Dan Dyer, president of the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 2, in a statement. "We think this is a major safety issue for the general public."

Washington Gas officials couldn't be reached for immediate comment.

Rates in the District have not increased since 2003, the company says. If approved, the higher rates are expected to be implemented Oct. 1. Washington Gas serves about 1 million customers in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. About 150,000 of its customers live in the District.

Gas Service Restored in Potomac Neighborhood

2007-02-14T14:38:00.000-05:00

WJLA reported that heavy customer demand caused a mechanical failure leaving 660 Washington Gas customers without service.

Hundreds of Potomac residents have natural gas service again following a mechanical problem that disrupted their service.

The problem occurred Tuesday near River Road when problems linked to heavy service demand temporarily left about 660 customers without service.

Washington Gas crews were able to restore pressure to the line by 3:10 a.m., but each of the homes affected by the outage had to be visited by technicians so pilot lights could be reignited.

By seven a.m., about 400 residents had been contacted by technicians.

When it's cold and you need natural gas the most, the system fails due to heavy use... It's crazy to think heavy service demand was the reason behind the service disruption. Potomac residents are too wealthy and influential to let another PG County debacle occur in their neighborhood. We'll see if other parts of the system stat to fail in Maryland.

Woman Killed in Fire Was Without Utilities

2007-02-06T09:31:00.000-05:00

In a Washington Post article authored by Keith L. Alexander highlights how an elderly woman died because her utilities were shutoff.

She was known by many on her block as Ms. Bessie or as the Cat Lady because she loved to feed the stray cats in the neighborhood.

Now, many neighbors of Bessie D. Sanders, 65, are lamenting a tragedy that could have been prevented. Sanders was killed Jan. 17 when her two-story brick rowhouse in the 900 block of Delafield Place NW caught fire. Investigators said the blaze was started by a candle that Sanders kept burning in her bedroom. She used candles because her utilities -- electricity, gas and water -- had been shut off months ago for lack of payment, authorities said.

How can we allow our elderly and impoverished to die because they cannot afford basic services to survive? Is the greed and need for shareholder return too great to realize the value of individual lives?

Washington Gas Seeks Rate Hike In The District

2006-12-28T14:49:00.000-05:00

First Washington Gas tries to hike rates in Virginia, now it's the District's turn.

Washington Gas is seeking a rate increase of nearly eight percent in the District of Columbia. If approved, District customers could see their annual gas bills go up by an average of nearly $102 a year. The company's rate hike would add nearly $8.50 to the average residential customer's monthly bill.

I personally like how Washington Gas asked for the increase right before Christmas. I bet they hopped the local press wouldn't cover the story due to the holidays.

I really hope DC media report why the gas company needs more money, considering how much they've cut costs operationally. Washington Gas no longer cares about their customers or employees, it only cares about making money and lining the pockets of its shareholders and executives...

Washington Gas Asks to Increase Rates in Va.

2006-10-11T17:01:00.000-04:00

Washington Gas has filed an application with Virginia regulators to increase its rates and charges next year.

The utility is asking for an increase of about 3.6 percent for the average residential customer's total bill. The company says that would amount to an increase of about $45 dollars each year, or $3.80 per month.

Washington Gas says it has not increased its rates in Virginia since 2002, despite inflation, rising labor costs and investments in its infrastructure. The change would increase the utility's revenue by $23 million annually.

Personally, I think Washington Gas should make its management accountable for their actions and cut their pay for screwing up the business so much. Their superfluous cost cutting will haunt the company when they try to fulfill their duty to deliver safe and reliable natural gas.

The company has cut so much from its operational departments that they can't cut anymore. So instead of looking at the top and at their mismanagment, they're now starting to cut administrative expenses.

When will these operational and administrative cuts come back and hurt those with the knives?

Washington Gas parent sells mechanical contractor

2006-10-11T16:53:00.000-04:00

If WGL Holdings is selling a money losing business, why should the customers be saddled with higher rates. I hope this sale will nix the need to raise natural gas rates.

Maybe Washington Gas management can now focus on what they should've been doing for the past 10 years, ensuring they can safely and reliably distribute natural gas to their customers.

Washington Gas Light is being bled dry to create shareholder value while sticking it their employees and customers.

WGL Holdings, parent company of Washington Gas, has sold American Combustion Industries, a mechanical contractor, to a private equity fund and other investors.

County Eyes Reimbursement For Gas Incident Responses

2006-09-16T14:50:00.000-04:00

It looks like Washington Gas might be responsible for picking up the tab for the over 260 emergency responses to the smell of natural gas in Loudoun county. Here's a quote from a news article:

County Administrator Kirby M. Bowers said Tuesday he has launched an internal review to see what the countyÂs options are to get reimbursed for one of the largest county public safety responses prompted by a mistake at a Washington Gas facility during Labor Day weekend.

On Saturday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 4 Loudoun Fire and Rescue career personnel and volunteers responded to 267 gas-related calls over a 52-hour period. Homeowners started smelling gas in their homes on Saturday and calls flooded the Emergency Operations Center. A special command center was set up in the middle of the trouble zone off east of Rt. 7 on Potomac View in a parking lot near a doctorÂs office.

Loudoun Fire-Rescue Services spokeswoman Mary Maguire said Washington Gas determined that a piece of equipment was dispensing too much mecaptan, which is the additive that gives natural gas its detectable odor. Maguire said the incident never posed a major health or safety risk to residents.

Bowers said he has asked county staff to determine whether the gas company will reimburse the county for some or all of the costs associated with the response and to secure assurances that such a mistake will not happen again. As part of that process, staff members are working to determine how much it actually cost the county to respond to all the calls.

Now Washington Gas wants to increase Virginia rates?!?! The company has already cut too much from its operational units to safely maintain its system in the name of shareholder value. I think it's time for Washington Gas shareholders to shoulder some of the burden for maintaining their investment.

Gas Smell Permeates Northern Va. Neighborhoods

2006-09-08T11:39:00.000-04:00

WTOP recently reported residents in Fairfax and Loudoun counties were treated to the smell of natural gas due to Washington Gas equipment malfunctions.

Here's a quote from the article:

Residents and business owners in parts of Sterling, Ashburn and Western Fairfax reported smelling gas starting on Saturday afternoon.

A Washington Gas spokeswoman says there they have found only pinhead leaks in some lines but no big leaks.

An equipment malfunction put too much mercaptan, the additive that gives natural gas its smell, into the system.

Unfortunately, I believe this is only a small symptom of a much larger problem at Washington Gas. The company must focus resources on its field operations and employees or it will see much larger issues and malfunctions in the future. If you cut and eliminate too much from an organization to lower expenses, you will eventually handicap its ability to ensure the safe operation of its systems.

WGL finance chief retires

2006-08-11T12:51:00.000-04:00

The Washington Business Journal reports that Fred Kline, Washington Gas CFO, is retiring effective Sept. 29 and Vincent Amman Jr. will become the new CFO on Sept. 30. Here's a quote from the article:

After 28 years with the company, WGL Holdings CFO Frederic M. Kline is stepping down.

WGL, parent company of Washington Gas Light, says Kline will relinquish the CFO title effective Sept. 29, and retire in February.

The company has promoted Vice President for Finance Vincent Amman Jr. to finance chief, effective Sept. 30.

Washington Gas cuts loss

2006-08-08T12:05:00.000-04:00

A recent Washington Business Journal article states Washington Gas was able to lower its quarterly losses by almost $6 million. Here's a quote from the article:

The D.C.-based parent of Washington Gas & Light reported a fiscal third quarter net loss of $1.8 million, or 4 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $8.2 million, or 17 cents per share in the same quarter a year ago. WGL typically reports losses in the summer quarters because of lower seasonal demand for natural gas.

Washington Gas Wants FERC to Reconsider Cove Point Decision

2006-07-26T09:34:00.000-04:00

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

2006-07-17T13:32:00.000-04:00

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

2006-07-10T12:31:00.000-04:00

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.

Washington Gas Reaffirms System Safety Following FERC Decision Regarding Dominion Cove Point LNG Terminal

2006-06-19T13:53:00.000-04:00

Washington Gas responds to FERC's ruling that the company was responsible for the increase in leaks due to the use of hot tar, not Cove Point's use of regasified LNG.

Here's a quote from Washington Gas's press release:

The company expressed its dissatisfaction with the FERC's conclusion, stating that the Commission disregarded key facts that link gas from Dominion's Cove Point terminal to the leaks.

"We will continue to maintain a safe and reliable system and protect the interests of our investors as we consider our options," said James H. DeGraffenreidt Jr., Chairman and CEO of Washington Gas.

FERC Blames Washington Gas's Use of Hot Tar for Increased Leaks

2006-06-19T13:46:00.000-04:00

Here's the quote from FERC's June 15 press release:

The Commission found that Washington Gas Light (WGL) used hot tar on pipeline couplings, resulting in corrosion and gas leaks.

"The Commission is convinced that WGL's use of hot tar as a method of corrosion protection was a significant contributing factor that resulted in an increase in leak rates through Prince George's County (MD)," the Commission said. "We find the application of hot tar and the increase in operating pressures on WGL's distribution system were the principal causative factors of the leaks experienced in Prince George's County, MD since the reactivation of the Cove Point LNG Terminal."

The Commission will require Cove Point to deliver regasified LNG that meets the gas quality specifications of all interconnecting pipelines.

"In view of these considerations, we find that claims raised in WGLÂs November 2, 2005 filing provide no basis to deny the authorizations requested for the Cove Point Expansion Project," the Commission said.

Washington Gas may sue county for stopping liquefied natural gas tanks

2006-06-08T11:59:00.000-04:00

An article written by Judson Berger from the Maryland Business Gazette states,

Washington Gas is considering more lawsuits following a County Council decision late last month that would prohibit construction of a controversial liquefied natural gas storage facility on its property in Chillum.

and...

The County Council effectively killed the Washington Gas proposal when it voted May 23 to approve a new Transit District Overlay Zone around the West Hyattsville Metro Station, near the proposed gas tank. The zoning prohibits fuel storage tanks.

2 liquefied natural gas proposals in MD ignite debate over safety

2006-06-05T11:12:00.000-04:00

Quotes from an article written by Scott Faber from the Chesapeake Bay Journal:

Senator Stone and local officials and citizen groups gained a powerful and unexpected ally when Washington Gas recently complained that gas being delivered from Cove Point could damage pipe fittings and increase gas leaks.

The gas company urged federal regulators to oppose the expansion of Cove Point until the network of pipes that deliver gas to the region can be upgraded to handle imported natural gas. Washington Gas claims that imported gas has certain properties that are drying the rubber seals that link sections of pipe—a claim that Dominion Resources has rejected. They point to maintenance problems that caused the joints and seals to weaken.

Council vote may block LNG facility

2006-06-05T11:04:00.000-04:00

Here are several quotes from an article written by Melissa Brachfeld from the Montgomery County Sentinel:

After several months of conflict, it seems that the Washington Gas Company may not get their chance to build a liquefied natural gas storage facility at their Chillum Road property.

The Sierra Club reported that on Tuesday, May 23, the Prince George's County Council voted 6-1 to approve the new Transit District Overlay Zone to guide development around the West Hyattsville Metro Station.

and...

On that same day, community residents in opposition to the proposed LNG facility were in the midst of presenting testimony for the seventh and last day before Maurene E. Epps-Webb, the county's zoning hearing examiner. Upon receipt of news of the county council's vote, Epps-Webb announced to all hearing attendees that this new zoning would prohibit her from ruling in favor of the Washington Gas' request for a special exception amendment, needed to permit the LNG plant within Open-Space zones.

and...

"We have cause to celebrate," Imani Kazana, a member of the WGWA and president of the Avondale Citizens' Association, said. "We have fought this zoning case for 15 long months, and some residents gave up and moved away. This development gives me great hope for a permanent end to this dreadful proposal to place a dangerous industrial activity in the midst of a densely populated residential neighborhood, and I pray the judges will do the right thing.

Washington Gas to Offer Electricity to Delaware Customers

2006-04-23T21:05:00.000-04:00

The Associated Press reported on Friday, April 21, that Washington Gas, through its subsidiary Washington Gas Energy Services, will sell electricity to Delaware electricity customers.

Now if only Washington Gas would focus as much on its current customers in Washington, D.C., the company might not have so many problems in its local service territory.