With ENSTAR Natural Gas’ new lateral line now in place, all that’s left is for crews to recover and hydro-seed the right-of-way, and for ratepayers to count the cost.
Hobson: “The RCA will ultimately determine whether or how much of these expenditures are included in the rates, but despite the increase, the potential for increase, the project will provide tremendous benefit to our customers.”
Lindsay Hobson, spokeswoman for ENSTAR, explained the 16″ diameter line will carry natural gas from CINGSA off Beaver Loop Road to ENSTAR’s existing Anchorage network, which starts just off Amy Lane near K-Beach Road. Until now, ENSTAR has been leasing a line from Hillcorp to perform the same duties.
Repeated questions about the benefit to consumers from the lateral line have been met with the same response from Hobson and Director of Business Development John Sims…
Sims: “Provides some redundancy to the CINGSA facility, which is of vital importance.
Hobson: “Having additional lines allow for redundancy, which is important for us to maintain deliverability.
Sims: “So having some redundancy with this lateral is extremely important. That’s one of the main benefits is redundancy.
Hobson: “Heating your home and making sure that the system is working well and that we can ensure gas into home for the customers that we serve.”
But Sims agreed ENSTAR already has backup plans in case the Hilcorp line experienced a failure, they just aren’t as ideal as a secondary line.
To hear a more detailed recording of those questions and answers, click below…
Sims also suggested the line would lead to some eventual savings on transportation costs, but could not provide figures about when those savings would balance the costs paid by customers.
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska is yet to approve ENSTAR’s proposed change to rates.
