NARUC Releases Report on Natural Gas Access and Expansion

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners has released a new report on best practices and recommendations for state regulators to promote and support the expansion of natural gas service in unserved and underserved areas, which includes rural areas.

The report was prepared by NARUC’s Task Force on Natural Gas Access and Expansion, established in April 2017 by then-president Robert F. Powelson and the executive committee. It proposes logistical and financial solutions to expand natural gas distribution lines and provides a summary of recent natural gas expansion activities by state. The task force is co-chaired by Commissioner John F. Coleman, Jr., of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and Commissioner Brandon Presley of the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

“The expansion of natural gas distribution lines can be prohibitive, but the recommendations included in this report, applied individually to each state, can facilitate natural gas expansion in unserved and underserved areas where there is consumer demand” said Coleman.  

“I have seen first-hand how expanding natural gas service can lower the cost of living for Mississippians,” said Presley. “The mechanisms and best practices outlined in the new report will help bolster state efforts to tap into the supply of natural gas, lower energy costs and promote economic growth.” 

The report was formally approved for release by the NARUC board of directors at its Annual Meeting and Education Conference on November 15, 2017. A copy of the report is available at http://bit.ly/GasTaskReport.

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