Consumers Energy: Customers Should Expect a 7 Percent Increase in Winter Heating Bills, Down Sharply from Earlier Projections

Consumers Energy customers should expect to see their natural gas bills go up about 7 percent this winter, down sharply from the double-digit increases projected earlier this year. Consumers Energy estimated today that the typical residential customer will see an average bill of about $160 a month this winter compared to about $150 a month last winter. That estimate is based on normal temperatures for the five-month heating season, which runs from... Read more..

New Challenges and Opportunities in Vehicle-to-Grid Power

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Vehicle-to-Grid Power: Challenges and Opportunities” report to their offering. The 1st Edition of Vehicle-to-Grid Power: Challenges and Opportunities is a 38-page report which seeks to pull together information on the current status of V2G power into a comprehensive overview to provide a high level understanding of the business opportunities and challenges of V2G. High gas prices,... Read more..

Local Insurer Takes Lower Gas Prices to New Extreme in Chicago

Gas prices will be a little less scary this Halloween season as one local insurer treats Chicago drivers to $0.99/gallon gas. The company announced today that it has partnered with a local gas station to provide the discounted gas at a special promotion scheduled tomorrow, October 21st between 11am and 2pm. The location will be announced on a special website, www.RefuelingChicago.com, just prior to the event. Area drivers lucky enough to make it to... Read more..

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company Reaches Settlement Agreement on Fuel Cost Application

South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. (SCE&G), principal subsidiary of SCANA Corporation, has entered into a settlement agreement with the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff and the other parties of record regarding the company’s recent filing for a mid-period adjustment to the fuel cost portion of its electric rates. The agreement, which is subject to approval by the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSC), would limit the... Read more..

Tampa Electric Revises Fuel Projections; Lower Cost Increases Expected

Today, Tampa Electric filed a revised fuel forecast with the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC). Due to lower projections for 2008 and 2009 natural gas prices and the company’s team members’ ongoing efforts to maximize the availability of its coal-fired generating units, the bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity is now projected to be almost $11 less than originally expected. President Chuck Black said,... Read more..

Avista Re-Files in Oregon for Lower Annual Natural Gas Adjustment

Avista has re-filed a request with the Public Utility Commission of Oregon to decrease the company’s annual purchase gas cost adjustment (PGA) effective Nov. 1, 2008. If approved by the commission, a residential customer using an average of 53 therms of natural gas per month would see their monthly bill decrease by $3.28, or 4.1 percent, for a revised bill of $76.79. Annual PGA filings pass through changes in the cost of natural gas Avista acquires... Read more..

New U.S. Company Turns Liquid Waste into Fuel

MagneGas Corporation, approved to be quoted on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board on September 30, 2008, symbol “MNGA”, announces that it has signed an exclusive and all-encompassing license with HyFuels, Inc. for the MagneGas Technology for North, South, Central America and the Caribbean Islands. This intellectual property consists of all relevant present and future patents, patent applications, trademarks and domain names. The license also... Read more..

NW Natural Files for Lower-Than-Projected Rate Increase

Northwest Natural Gas Company, dba NW Natural filed updated requests with the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC) and the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) for rate increases to cover higher wholesale natural gas costs. The Company is requesting a 14 percent rate increase in Oregon and a 20 percent rate increase in Washington for residential customers, which is significantly below its original projections made last July.... Read more..

Hybrid Vehicles And The Cost Of Going Green

Hybrid vehicles reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and minimize emissions from greenhouse gases. But it’s still a question whether they save money in the long run. The answer: maybe. Some models achieving well over 40 miles per gallon cost thousands more than equivalent gas models, which get 30 miles per gallon. Even with gas prices at $4 a gallon, it could take driving 15,000 miles per year for 12 years to make up the difference,... Read more..

Electric Car Factory Breaks Ground in Kentucky for Joint Venture Between ZAP and Integrity

Work commenced at the site of an electric car factory in Franklin, Kentucky, according to officials for Integrity Automotive, a joint venture to expand electric vehicle manufacturing in the USA for ZAP. Construction equipment arrived at the site of the Wilkey North Industrial Park on Thursday and a site contractor with a work crew have been mobilized as of Friday to prepare the 200-plus acre site for rough grading, said Randall S. Waldman of Integrity... Read more..