What I got out of the Detroitnews morning after report.
1) Somebody ought to get the CEO a bus drivers suit
2) The Governor ought to read U20322 testimony. The dog and pony show has already been done. No need to waste more taxpayers money developing a new contingency plan to present in July when no one is paying attention.
3) You can give Nick Assendelft public information officer for the Michigan Public Service Commission who oversees rates for the state’s major utilities a bus drivers suit, too. The governor acknowledged she is concerned that nearly two-thirds of Consumers’ natural gas supply comes through one facility and is susceptible to interruption. “It kind of grew into this critical part of their infrastructure,” Assendelft said. Which is all you have to know about his level of job interest.
4) Be wary of purchasing a Ford in the future… “Ford Motor Co. has curtailed certain heat-intensive processes at some plants in the state”…
Some background on Ray Compressor Station
Compressor Stations What How and Why
https://extension.psu.edu/understanding-natural-gas-compressor-stations
While most of Consumers Energy website is geared towards their own interests, there is useful information to be found.
You may have a little trouble getting information out of the media area where access to Public Service Commission testimony is found. But the effort is worth it if you like to keep an eye on things you have a right to. You’ll gain insights such as…
Q. What are some of the customer benefits that will be enhanced by the proposals in
19 this proceeding?
20 A. Customer benefits may be considered in four categories:
21 1. Safety – First and foremost, customers expect gas to be delivered safely to
22 their homes and businesses. They expect the Company to quickly detect and
23 diagnose at-risk distribution pipe, as well as replace any damaged or aged pipe
24 through risk-based approaches to maximize system risk reduction, and to
25 ensure that our natural gas infrastructure will continue to deliver gas safely to
26 customers for years to come. Customers also expect that when an issue is
27 identified, it gets addressed timely and efficiently. Finally, customers expect
28 transparency about what is being done to ensure system safety and how they
29 can be best prepared to handle any safety related issue;
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MICHAEL A. TORREY
DIRECT TESTIMONY
1
2 need it – regardless of weather conditions. They expect the Company to
3 leverage technology advancements, make investments in pipelines,
4 compressor stations, storage fields, and other infrastructure necessary to
5 ensure reliable delivery. Customers also expect the Company to keep them
6 informed about work being done in order to improve all aspects of gas
7 delivery;
8 3. Value – Customers consider both the price they pay and the service received
9 when assessing value. The focus is to keep bills affordable, and competitive
10 while service is maintained or improved, where necessary. Investments that
11 help reduce Operation and Maintenance (“O&M”) costs and/or improve the
12 Company’s ability to access and store gas supply help maintain affordability
13 and price stability. In regards to service, the Company leverages customer
14 data from the CXi (“CXi”) score developed by Forrester (“CXi”), J.D. Power,
15 and other sources such as on-time delivery and call center metrics, to ensure
16 the Company’s proposals provide value for customers. This includes
17 investments in technology, metering, customer service, reliability, safety, and
18communications; and
19 4. Corporate Citizenship – Customers expect the Company to do business in a
20 socially responsible manner. This means taking actions to care for Michigan’s
21 environment, encouraging economic opportunities, and enhancing the quality
22 of life in the communities we serve. Consumers Energy is committed to
23 operating sustainably and working to leave the Company, Michigan, and the
24 world better than we found them. Since the 1990s, Consumers Energy has
25 been working to protect Michigan’s environment by cleaning up sites of
26 23 former manufactured gas plants throughout the state. The Company’s pipe
27 replacement programs work to mitigate gas loss across the system and reduce
28 greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers Energy has goals to reduce water use,
29 encourage recycling to reduce landfill space, and promote sustainable business
30 practices among the companies with which we work. We are working with
31 companies to help expand their operations and attract new employers to the
32 State. Finally, 4,200 employees volunteered across Michigan in 2017 to
33 support education, community, civic, and cultural development, as well as
34 social services and the environment. In addition, 1,400 employees
35 participated in over 30 Walk for Warmth events, raising $200,000 for the local
36 Community Action Agencies.
While there are 801 pages of testimony available the pages are short and you might learn something you did not know before.
Stay warm, my friends, and remember, I rarely use ventilators but when I do, I keep them ice free in winter.