Regulators in Michigan and Florida have taken steps to expand programs for transportation of customer-owned gas.
In Michigan, the state public service commission will test the idea of expanding transportation service to residential and commercial users for two gas distribution utilities, plus allowing some aggregation to meet volume requirements. In Florida, the PSC will explore the idea of aggregating facilities owned by different customers.
Michigan. Tests in Michigan will involve Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. and Consumers Power Co. The MCG pilot, for example, would allow 47,0000 customers in the Grand Rapids, Mich., area the option of purchasing their gas from third-party suppliers. To participate, customers must agree to take service under the pilot transportation service tariff for a minimum of one year. Suppliers who participate in the program must accept, at maximum tariff rates, a pro-rata share of MCG's released upstream capacity on the ANR Pipeline Co. system. The program also allows sellers of gas supplies to enter into aggregation agreements with MCG to facilitate the sales of smaller amounts of gas to individual customers.