National Grid, Con Edison, other utilities urge FERC to consider gas pipeline reliability measures

A group of electric and gas utilities on Friday urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to launch an inquiry to consider options for improving gas pipeline reliability.

Increased demand and extreme weather in the last decade have stressed the interstate gas transportation and storage system and reduced pipeline companies’ operational flexibility, according to a filing at FERC by four National Grid utilities — Boston Gas, Brooklyn Union Gas, KeySpan Gas East and Niagara Mohawk Power — along with Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, Orange & Rockland Utilities and Washington Gas Light.

“The challenges facing interstate pipelines, and other parts of the natural gas value chain, continue to intensify warranting greater regulatory involvement and standardization of practices,” the utilities said.

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