Home Page >
News & Information >
Company News >
Other News of Interest >
Natural Gas Laterals Expansion >
Frequently Asked Questions
The demand for natural gas has increased — doubling since 1980. To make sure that
the need for gas is met, Wisconsin Public Service will construct the Natural Gas Laterals
Expansion Project.
During the week of August 21 through August 28, 2006, Wisconsin Public Service Natural
Gas Laterals Project planners met with local residents at a series of community open houses
to exchange information on the project and it's location in their area.
- Is there really a need for this expansion?
- Yes. Currently, a single transmission pipeline
serves all 305,000 Pubic Service natural gas customers, which limits us in both
capacity and the ability to negotiate prices. If we are to maintain access to
reliable supplies of natural gas, the extra capacity achieved by connecting
laterals to Guardian II will be needed.
Back to Top
- What is the main cause of the increased demand?
- Continued economic growth, more natural gas use and
more customers. Since 1980, the number of natural gas customers we serve has doubled.
There have not been any large scale increases in transmission capacity. The sole
supplier of gas has constructed several smaller scale transmission capacity projects
over the years to keep up with the growing demand, but nothing as significant as the
Guardian II project.
Back to Top
- How does the approval process work?
- Like all such utility projects in Wisconsin, this
project will be regulated and closely scrutinized by the state utility regulator, the
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) and Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (WDNR). Essentially, we will put together our best proposal for the project,
inform the public of its existence, gather public comment and submit it to the PSCW.
They will review it, gather additional studies and input, and make the decision to
approve, deny or approve with specific modifications.
Back to Top
- If approved, who would most benefit from this project?
- In a near-even split, residential and
business/industrial customers stand to benefit. Currently, about 51% of Public Service
natural gas is used for residential, with about 49% going to commercial customers.
Back to Top
- How will I benefit from this project?
- In several ways. An additional pipeline will
introduce an element of competition into the marketplace, giving us the opportunity to
negotiate prices on behalf of our customers. Increased capacity would improve the
reliability of service by meeting rapidly growing demand. And finally, all of
northeastern Wisconsin will benefit from the vibrant economies built, in part, by
ready access to natural gas.
Back to Top
- What will the project cost?
- Initial estimates for the Public Service lateral
portion of the project — 55 miles of new pipeline and three new regulator
stations — call for $75 million. This would mean a cost increase of about $1.20
per month for the average customer the first year after the laterals are completed,
declining each year after that until reaching zero in the tenth year.
Back to Top
- Would all four laterals that are part of the project be
built at the same time?
- Yes. We will receive the benefits of shared
efficiencies by having all laterals built at the same time.
Back to Top
- Will the laterals cross my land?
- Of the areas earmarked for location of the
laterals, 99% are on existing right-of-way lands, or they are in areas that already
have utilities on them. We want to be as unobtrusive as possible.
State-of-the-art construction techniques and equipment will be used to place the
pipeline about four feet under ground and return the surface of the land to its
original condition. In a few cases, some new land may be needed, including property
owned by private individuals.
Back to Top