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Natural Gas Utilities 101

February 1 - 2, 2027 Online :: Central Time

“This course was great for someone who had absolutely no experience with anything Natural Gas. Now I’m better equipped and set up for the success needed to do my job.”

Natural Gas Analyst, Clearwater Enterprises

“This course is perfect for anyone who has little to no experience in the Natural Gas industry.”

Senior Analyst, Rate Engineering, Con Edison of New York

“Every session offered clear, actionable takeaways I could apply in my work life.”

Public Utilities Financial Analyst I, Kentucky Public Service Commission
Read more testimonials

“This is the course for you if you know nothing amount the natural gas industry. By the end, you'll know a little about every aspect of gas utilities.”

Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst V, California Public Utilities Commission

This course discusses the key elements of the natural gas supply chain, infrastructure, and operations of natural gas utilities, with extensive discussions on regulation of natural gas utilities by State Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), State Authorities, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and Pipeline & Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). 

The program will also dive into topics pertaining to: 

  • The domestic natural gas industry, with emphasis on shale gas, pipelines, underground and surface storage
  • LNG imports and exports
  • How FERC sets interstate pipeline transportation
  • Index, Basis and Swing Contracts
  • Financial hedging with futures and swaps
  • Decarbonization via RNG, 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 with not only the expertise from the instructor, but also with real-world experiences from fellow attendees as well.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify how local distribution companies (LDC’s) fit in the natural gas supply chain
  • Differentiate upstream, midstream, and downstream operations and the major participants involved in each
  • Assess new and existing FERC and PHMSA requirements, as well as the framework of PHMSA regulations, methane reduction initiatives, and leak detection requirements
  • Interpret the purpose and application of key FERC forms used in reporting
  • Evaluate FERC Section 4 and Section 5 rate cases affecting utilities
  • Discuss pipeline transportation including the role of Asset Managers in managing LDC gas supply, delivery, and pipeline capacity
  • Analyze the impact of pipeline capacity releases and Asset Management Agreements (AMAs)
  • Identify techniques that LDCs can use to decarbonize natural gas
  • Compare physical and financial markets and explain key practices used in physical natural gas buying and selling
  • Analyze the factors that influence natural gas pricing, index development, and price discovery
  • Review natural gas utility activities in the physical natural gas markets, pricing mechanisms, and how LDCs can hedge gas supply and price volatility
  • Recognize regulatory oversight responsibilities, enforcement priorities, and market manipulation concerns within the natural gas industry

Register

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Individual attendee(s)$ 1295.00 each(early bird rate)
(price after January 22, 2027 is $ 1,495.00)
Volume pricing also available

Individual attendee tickets can be mixed with ticket packs for complete flexibility

Pack of 5 attendees$ 5,500.00 (15% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after January 22, 2027 is $ 6,350.00)
Pack of 10 attendees$ 10,360.00 (20% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after January 22, 2027 is $ 11,960.00)
Pack of 20 attendees$ 19,425.00 (25% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after January 22, 2027 is $ 22,425.00)

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before January 1, 2027 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

EUCI retains the right to refuse registration by any individual or company.

Day one

Monday, February 1, 2027

Day two

Tuesday, February 2, 2027

Agenda

Monday, February 1, 2027
Central Time

Online

Log In and Welcome

8:45 AM

Lunch Break

12:30 - 1:15 PM

Adjourn for the day

5:00 PM

8:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Log In and Welcome

12:30 - 1:15 PM

Lunch Break

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Course Timing

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

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

Agenda

Tuesday, February 2, 2027
Central Time

Online

Log In

8:45 AM

Lunch Break

12:30 - 1:15 PM

Adjourn for the day

5:00 PM

8:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Log In

12:30 - 1:15 PM

Lunch Break

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Course Timing

Decarbonizing Natural Gas

  • Challenges, Techniques, and Technologies
  • Renewable Natural Gas
  • Hydrogen Production and Blending
  • Responsibly Sourced Natural Gas

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.

Continuing Education Credits

Credits

IACET

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EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.5 CEUs for this event

Verify our IACET accreditation

Who recognizes IACET Credits?

CPEs

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 17.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

CpeEUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must log in each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit. 

Instructional Methods

PowerPoint presentations, group discussions, and active participation.

Who Should Attend

This course is for new staff and others who work for and with natural gas utilities or wish to have a broader understanding of the industry and its challenges. Participants who are not familiar with utilities and natural gas systems can significantly benefit from attending. Since this is a basic seminar, a prior background in natural gas systems or engineering is not expected or required, although some familiarity will be helpful.

CLE

Only registered attendees can request CLE credits for an EUCI course/event.  Please email [email protected] prior to the course start date and list the state where you are licensed and your bar# as well as the name and date of your course/event in your request, and someone will be in contact.