Natural Gas Utilities 101
December 4-5 2023 | Live Streaming Online
A BankWebinars.com Program
Click Here to register $1295
If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all registrants for three business days after the event
Both new hires and current employees will benefit from this expert-led course that will cover the full breadth of Natural Gas Utilities, from infrastructure to operations, and regulations to trading.
Our expert instructor will guide attendees through two packed days that teach:
- Regulation of natural gas utilities by State Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), State Authorities, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and Pipeline & Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- An overview of the domestic natural gas industry, with emphasis on:
- shale gas
- pipelines
- underground and surface storage
- and liquefied natural gas imports and exports
- How FERC sets interstate pipeline transportation and storage rates
- The role of peak shaving plants
- How gas is priced in bidweek and daily markets
- Pipeline nominations
- How natural gas utilities can physically and financially hedge their gas supplies and price volatility
- Decarbonization via renewable natural gas, hydrogen blending, methanation, and responsibly sourced natural gas
It is highly encouraged that participants ask questions, start discussions, share stories, and voice challenges so all attendees leave not only with the expertise from the instructor, but with real-world experiences from fellow attendees as well. Discounts start at 20% off when you register five or more!
Learning Outcomes
- Identify how local distribution companies (LDC’s) fit in the natural gas supply chain
- Review natural gas utility activities in the physical natural gas markets, pricing mechanisms, and how LDCs can hedge gas supply and price volatility
- Discuss pipeline transportation and the increased role of Asset Managers in managing LDC gas supply, delivery, and pipeline capacity
- Review existing and new FERC and PHMSA requirements affecting natural gas utilities
- Identify technologies and techniques that LDCs can use to decarbonize natural gas
Agenda
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central Time
Local Distribution Companies
- Mission and Function
- Types of Natural Gas Utilities and Sizes
- Infrastructure
- Customer Classes
- Delivery of Natural Gas to its End Point
- Components of Residential Natural Gas Prices
- Regulators: State PUCs, FERC, and PHMSA
- LDC Regional Growth Trends
The Natural Gas Supply Chain
- Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream Facilities and Activities
- Major Players and Who Regulates Them
- Important LDC Activities
- New Markets (CNG and LNG Vehicles) and Others
State and Federal Jurisdictions
- Overview of State Regulation of Natural Gas Utilities
- FERC Regulation
- FERC Regulation of Pipelines, Storage, LNG Terminals, and LNG Peak Shaving Plants
- Overlapping State and Federal Jurisdictional Provisions Under FERC, CFTC, and PHMSA
PHMSA Safety Laws and Regulations
- Recent Laws
- Framework of Federal Pipeline Safety Program
- New Regulations
- Methane Reduction and Leak Detection
Important FERC Forms for Natural Gas Utilities
- Form No. 549B: Index of Customers
- Form Nos. 2, 2A and 3-Q: Major, Non-Major, and Quarterly Reports of Natural Gas Pipelines
- Form No. 552: Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions
- Form No. 549D: Quarterly Transportation & Storage Report for Intrastate Natural Gas and Hinshaw Pipelines
The Natural Gas Supply Chain
- Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream Facilities and Activities
- Major Players and Who Regulates Them
- Important LDC Activities
- New Markets (CNG and LNG Vehicles) and Others
FERC Ratemaking
- Overview and Approach
- Section 4 and Section 5 Rate Cases
- Recent Cases with Implications for Natural Gas Utilities
Natural Gas Pipelines and Storage Facilities
- Locations
- Top 10 Natural Gas Pipeline and Storage Companies
- Role of Shippers and Purchasers
- How Pipelines Operate; Nominating Gas
- LNG Peak Shaving: The Other Storage Option
Pipeline Capacity Releases and AMAs
- Background and FERC Order 712
- Why It’s Important
- Growth of Capacity Releases and AMAs
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central Time
Decarbonizing Natural Gas
- Challenges, Techniques, and Technologies
- Renewable Natural Gas
- Hydrogen Production and Blending
- Methanation
- Responsibly Sourced Natural Gas
- Green Natural Gas and Role of Offset
Physical Natural Gas and Financial Gas Market
- Overview
- Key Differences
- Forwards and Futures
Physical Natural Gas: Buying and Selling
- NAESB Contracts
- Where Can Physical and Natural Gas Be Bought and Sold
- Bidweek (Next Month Gas)
- Daily Gas
- Intraday
- Weekend Gas Markets
Natural Gas Pricing
- What’s Driving Natural Gas Prices?
- How Is Natural Gas Priced?
- Role of Index Publishers and Price Discovery
- Natural Gas Indices and Fixed Price Deals
- Major Trends on How Sellers and Purchasers Price Physical Natural Gas
- Examples of Physical Natural Gas Purchases
- Recent FERC Concerns with Natural Gas Index Use and Liquidity
Hedging with Natural Gas
- What Hedging Really Is
- Should You Use Financial Hedge? Are You Allowed to Hedge?
- How Natural Gas Utilities Physically Hedge Natural Gas
- How Natural Gas Utilities Financially Hedge Natural Gas
- Examples of Hedging Natural Gas Purchases
Natural Gas Markets: Regulatory Perspectives
- Who’s Watching the Natural Gas Industry and Markets for Manipulation?
- FERC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and States
- What Gets FERC’s Attention in the Natural Gas Markets
- FERC’s Hotline
- Fines and Penalties Assessed by FERC
Instructor
Tom Russo, Principal, Russo on Energy, LLC
Tom Russo is an Energy and Environmental expert with unique FERC regulatory skills in oil, natural gas and liquefied natural gas infrastructure, NEPA environmental impact assessment and in how energy markets, prices and physical/cybersecurity affect infrastructure investments.
Prior to founding Russo on Energy LLC in May 2015, Mr. Russo worked for over 30 years as a Manager and Sr. Energy Industry Analyst at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). During that time, he amassed experience in the natural gas and crude oil markets and its regulation by the FERC. Mr. Russo thoroughly understands the Natural Gas Act, Natural Gas Policy Act, and Interstate Commerce Act which are applicable to natural gas and oil pipeline transportation.
Mr. Russo is also an adjunct professor at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. He teaches Global Energy Markets and Global Energy Security to undergraduate and graduate students. He actively conducts independent research on oil, natural gas, and power matters and writes an Energy and Environmental column for the Climate & Energy Journal.