Equitrans L.P. (Equitrans) is determined to do something with its gathering lines. Equitrans sold some gathering lines in the southern part of its system, but according to a recent study still holds a gathering system that extends through Monongalia, Marion, Taylor, Harrison, Wetzel, Tyler, Ritchie and Doddridge counties of West Virginia, and Green and Fayette counties of Pennsylvania (collectively the Northern Gathering System). Things are going to change with respect to the Northern Gathering System, and the changes could be unfavorable to producers.
In a prior action alert, IOGA informed you that Equitrans hoped to transfer the lines to Peoples Gas WV LLC (Peoples) at nominal cost to Peoples. Equitrans even offered to add new taps to bring higher pressure gas onto its system when the gas was needed for consumers and filed its proposal with the West Virginia Public Service Commission (WVPSC) as part of a case involving the sale of Peoples.
Peoples is a regulated public utility gas distribution company that is not in the gathering business, so Peoples did not jump at the acquisition. Instead, Peoples and Equitrans engaged an independent consulting firm, Black & Veatch, to study alternatives for the lines, including a possible transfer to Peoples.
The study is substantially complete, filed with the WVPSC and now available on IOGA’s webpage at www.iogawv.com or https://gowv.com/equitrans-gathering-study/. The study contains a great deal of information about the Northern Gathering System, including its condition, possible sections to abandon, and interconnections. While complex, the study is worth reading. You, or IOGA on your behalf, could have an opportunity to comment on the study.
Please, visit the IOGA website and look at the study, but more importantly, express your views to IOGA’s Commerce Committee. Jeff Isner and Jim Crews are your Commerce Committee chairs. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, Commerce meetings are being re-scheduled and may occur by video or teleconference, but the time and place of the next meeting will be available from the IOGA office, 304 344 9867. If you have gas on Equitrans gathering, it is in your interest to express your views.
