2009 Advocacy Priorities

As Approved by AGA’s Board of Directors, February 2009

Natural Gas Supply:  Increase Natural Gas Production and Supply

Dividend Tax: Make Permanent the Current Low Dividend and Capital Gains Tax Levels, which Expire after 12/31/2010

Climate Change:  Advocate for Federal, State and Regional Climate Change Policies Consistent with Natural Gas Utility Interests

LIHEAP:  Protect LIHEAP Funding

Distribution Integrity Advocacy: (Proposed DOT Rules)

Advocate Innovative Rate Approaches:  Advocate for Innovative Rate Approaches that Create Incentives for Utilities to Promote Energy Efficiency

Advocate Demand-Side Measures:   Advocate Demand-Side Measures and Policies that Provide for Maximizing the Productivity of Natural Gas Use in Homes and Businesses

Building Energy Codes and Standards:  Building and Energy Codes and Standards to Promote Energy Efficient and Safe Direct Use of Natural Gas

NARUC Outreach:  Represent Gas Distribution Interests before NARUC and Enhance NARUC Knowledge of Natural Gas Market Conditions and LDC Efforts to Serve Customers

DOT Pipeline Safety Proceedings:  Represent Gas Distribution Company Interests in Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHSMA) Proceedings

Decrease Taxes on Utilities:  Support Measures that Decrease Taxes on Utilities

PUC Visits to Wall Street:  Educate NARUC on Utility Capital Needs by Arranging Meetings between State Public Utility Commissioners and Wall Street Analysts

Advocate at FERC: Advocate at FERC to Ensure the Continued Reliability and High Quality of Pipeline Service to Bring Natural Gas Supplies to LDC Markets

Infrastructure Security Issues:  Ensure that Congress and Governmental Agencies (especially DHS, DOT and DOE) Address Gas Utility Infrastructure Security Concerns in an Appropriate and Reasonable Manner

Support for RD&D:  Help Position the Industry to be Able to Develop and Encourage Use of Natural Gas Environmentally Friendly and Efficient End-Use Technologies that Will Allow Viability and Profitability of the Natural Gas Utility Market

Advocate for International Financial Reporting: Advocate on Behalf of AGA Members with the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC)

Waste, PCBs and MGPs:  Obtain Workable Rules that Benefit Gas Utilities

End-Use R&D:  Seek Legislative Support for Natural Gas End-Use R&D Funding Mechanism

Infrastructure Permit Streamlining:  Wetlands, Storm Water, Endangered Species and Oil Spill Prevention

Natural Gas Vehicles: Advocate for federal financial and other incentives for the purchase of NGVs

Advocate on Behalf of AGA Members Before NAESB:  Monitor the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) developments of interest to LDCs and help develop and advocate LDC positions as needed.