Second annual Natural Gas Readiness Forum Summit delivers important industry coordination as winter season begins
WASHINGTON – The American Gas Association’s second annual Natural Gas Readiness Forum Summit brought natural gas utility leaders, regulators and industry executives together from across the country to discuss system reliability, preparation for high-demand periods and cross-sector coordination with the electric industry last week. The event was administered by AGA as part of a recommendation from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Gas-Electric Alignment for Reliability (GEAR) task force to promote cross-sector coordination in the energy industry and to boost preparedness for major events.
The Natural Gas Readiness Forum fosters operational education, situational awareness and peer-to-peer connections across the natural gas industry, electric sector, end-users and relevant government agencies. Energy industry stakeholders including, but not limited to, natural gas distribution operators, natural gas midstream operators, natural gas producers, state regulatory utility commissioners, regional transmission operators and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission representatives were all in attendance to ensure industry coordination for the winter ahead.
“Natural gas is essential for energy security, and energy security is essential for national security,” said AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert. “Coordination between natural gas and electric operators is essential to realize the full value of reliable energy for families and for the American economy. The Natural Gas Readiness forum is committed to advancing this coordination and ensuring reliable, affordable and safe energy this winter and beyond.”
The American Gas Association has strongly supported efforts to improve the resilience of the energy system during peak demand periods. A resilient energy system is essential to the operation of nearly every critical function and sector of the U.S. economy, and the natural gas system is responsible for delivering three times more energy on the coldest day of the year than the electric system delivers on the hottest day of the year. This energy provides lifesaving warmth for millions of families and businesses across the continent. Only one in 650 natural gas customers are expected to experience a planned or unplanned natural gas outage in any given year.
According to AGA’s Winter Heating Outlook, affordability and reliability are pinnacle focuses for the natural gas industry this winter, as the surge in natural gas demand is met with record natural gas production and a 16% increase in technically recoverable domestic natural gas resources. While a continuation of last year’s “La Niña” weather pattern signals a colder than average winter season in the lower-48 states, advanced planning from natural gas utilities combined with increased production will work together to keep natural gas bills 8% lower than higher prices of several years ago.