Natural Gas
DRA actively represents ratepayers in a variety of natural gas proceedings pertaining to cost allocation, natural gas infrastructure, gas procurement incentive mechanisms, and hedging natural gas costs. For information on DRA’s participation in specific natural gas cases, please view the links in the sections below.
Biogas is the anaerobic digestion of organic waste that produces gasses that can be collected for energy use. Biogas can be sourced from dairies, wastewater treatment plants, or organic waste such as food scraps. It can currently be used for on-site power generation and will in the future be able to be injected directly into the natural gas pipeline. The CPUC is currently implementing Assembly Bill 1900 which seeks to break market barriers for implementing Biogas in order to promote environmental and economic goals.
Cost allocation proceedings for gas address the allocation of the costs of service across customers and the design of rates that customers pay.
Gas procurement incentive mechanisms were first implemented in the mid-1990s. These mechanisms replaced the highly litigious and time-consuming "reasonable reviews" that prevailed prior to the mid-1990s.
On February 24, 2011, the CPUC opened a rulemaking to establish a new model of natural gas pipeline safety regulations in the wake of the San Bruno pipeline explosion in 2010.
- San Bruno Investigation: The CPUC opened three investigations into the September 9, 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion that occurred in PG&E’s service territory: 1) the cause of the San Bruno explosion; 2) PG&E’s Recordkeeping practices across its pipeline system; and 3) PG&E’s treatment of pipeline safety in High Density Areas.
Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plans (PSEP) : In February 2011, the CPUC opened a rulemaking to establish a new model of natural gas pipeline safety regulations in the wake of the San Bruno pipeline explosion in 2010. Natural Gas utilities were required to submit safety implementation plans for their pipeline systems.