Natural Gas Utilities 101

August 5-6, 2024 | Online :: Central Time

0824-natural-gas-utilities-101

“Tom is highly effective in his instruction. He breaks down complicated concepts and allows his audience to grasp them and is easy to follow along. An 8-hour or 4-hour lecture seemed so much shorter when I listened to his lecture.” – Energy Industry Analyst, FERC

“Tom was great and his slides were perfect in explaining everything. He was fantastic!” – Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

“Extremely knowledgeable and apt at making complicated material understandable in a field where most speak in sentences comprised of 80% acronyms. Very useful training.” – California Public Utilities Commission

“Tom did a great job at simplifying a complex topic and engaging with all of the attendees. I would recommend this course to anyone seeking a comprehensive education of the natural gas industry.” – Visual Media Designer, Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

Read more

“EUCI delivered practical and appropriate training. The courses were in-depth and informative. Worth it.” – US Department of Energy

“He is an amazing instructor.” – CPUC

“Comprehensive introduction to everything about the natural gas industry.” – CPUC

“Tom was excellent! I enjoyed listening to him. He kept us engaged and explained complex concepts in a simplified way which made it easy for me to understand.” – DC Public Service Commission

“Tom was very informational and interactive. I gained a lot from his industry knowledge and experience.” – Spire

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  

• Determine 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

Monday, August 5, 2024 : 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, August 6, 2024 : 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

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.

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

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:

Natural Gas Utilities 101

August 5-6, 2024 | Online

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 July 05, 2024 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

Credits

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.

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.

---

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 Preperation: None

EUCI 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 web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

 

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.