Monthly Archives: February 2009

Melanie Lyons AGA’s Chairman Tom Skains addresses North Carolina financial communities

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Melanie Lyons | Comments Off


090226skains01 AGAs Chairman Tom Skains addresses North Carolina financial communities

Tom Skains addresses CFA Society members in Charlotte, NC

Tom Skains, chairman of the AGA and chairman, president and CEO of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, addressed both the Charlotte and Raleigh financial communities this week.  He told attendees that in the current financial and economic crisis, natural gas has the opportunity to help revitalize our economy, fight global climate change, and secure America’s energy future.

In Charlotte, Skains spoke to an audience of over 90 members of the CFA N.C. Society, an association of investment professionals.  He spoke to the group about the benefits of investing in natural gas – the cleanest of all fossil fuels — saying, “Our industry believes that in the current financial and economic crisis natural gas has a great opportunity to help revitalize our economy, to help fight global climate change, and to help enhance America’s energy security.”  Skains concluded by telling the group that he also believes that in the current economic situation, natural gas utilities continue to be an attractive and wise investment opportunity.

090226skains02 AGAs Chairman Tom Skains addresses North Carolina financial communities

AGA’s Chairman Tom Skains speaks with reporters after the event.

The event was attended by the local papers and received coverage this morning in the Charlotte Observer.  Skains and AGA staff also met with the editorial page board of the Charlotte Observer.  Skains will address the Raleigh CFA Society at noon today.

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Chris McGill Natural Gas Market Indicators, Feb. 25, 2009

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Chris McGill | Comments Off


090225ngmi Natural Gas Market Indicators, Feb. 25, 2009

Repeating what has been said for many weeks – continued strength in domestic natural gas production relative to last year, a widening surplus of working gas in storage compared to prior years and weak demand fundamentals continue to dominate the short-term natural gas market. Price rationalization in today’s market continues to point down in many analysts view, with the low price outlook supported by the NYMEX forward strip.

However, with everything pointing in one direction one seems invited to look for contrary factors given the recent history of market extremes and volatility. What will buck the trend and when?

Perhaps a colder than normal finish to the winter heating season in key consuming regions; maybe gas production is headed down considering lower rig counts or even shut-ins; maybe LNG doesn’t show up on U.S. shores this year; might there be policy shifts in Washington that change the current momentum; or, might this be a summer of weather-induced supply disruptions or strong cooling-load requirements. Let the guessing begin!

You can download the full Natural Gas Market Indicator newsletter here.

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Dan Gibson Congratulations to Piedmont Natural Gas for receiving the Clean Cities Award

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Dan Gibson | Comments Off


I came across this article the other day. Piedmont Natural Gas was awarded the 2008 Clean Cities Award, given annually by the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CCFC) to the business or organization that “best demonstrates excellence in clean transportation and fuel activities.” The Coalition is a local effort of the Centralina Council of Governments, a state designated regional planning agency in North Carolina comprising Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties.

090224cleancities Congratulations to Piedmont Natural Gas for receiving the Clean Cities Award

The CCFC is one of nearly 90 Clean City Coalitions participating in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities Program. The mission of the National Clean Cities Program is to reduce petroleum dependence, improve air quality, and expand alternative fuel use and technology. The program promotes, accelerates, and expands the use of alternative fuels in the transportation sector. Working through locally-based government- industry partnerships, the Clean Cities Program seeks to expand the use of alternatives to traditional gasoline and diesel fuel. The DOE classifies the following fuels as “alternative fuels”: biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, methanol, natural gas, propane, and solar energy.

Some of the initiatives that Piedmont was recognized for include:

  • Piedmont’s “no idle” policy for its entire fleet of utility service and distribution vehicles as well as various employee programs around carpooling to work
  • Walking to lunch instead of driving during the ozone season
  • Refueling vehicles after 6:00 p.m. to reduce VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions
  • Acquiring two natural gas forklifts for use in its Distribution Center replacing units that used propane or gasoline
  • Maintaining several vehicles in its service and distribution fleet that run on natural gas.

Congratulations again to Piedmont for some well-deserved recognition.

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Chris McGill Natural Gas Market Indicators

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Chris McGill | Comments Off


0902ngmi13 1 Natural Gas Market Indicators

Summary:
There are numerous unknowns as consumers of natural gas look forward in 2009 to conditions within the economy, energy prices and energy markets.

Let’s pick a few, speaking first to the demand side. Information on the real impact of recession in the economy is only now trickling in with respect to industrial consumption of natural gas. It appears that original estimates of consumption declines were conservative and that natural gas to large volume customers is declining more significantly than anticipated.

With that said, reductions in gas supply, particularly domestic production, will take months to adjust to current demand trends. In addition, many believe that North America will become a target for additional LNG sales this year simply because it may have no other place to go.

Strong supply and modest demand is a recipe for lower prices as winter ends and the summer power generation and storage injection season comes upon us. Nearly every indicator points in the direction noted above. So, if recent history is any judge something may be positioning itself to upset the apple cart. What might that be? Supply disruptions, policy decisions – time will tell.

Link to the full document.

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