September 2004

Delivering Your Energy

from the Hub

In the last issue of The Walton EMC Gasette, you learned how natural gas is collected from oil and natural gas wells. But it doesn't stop there.   Natural gas is transmitted across the United States to your natural gas connection. It's accessible when you're ready to cook a hot meal, dry your clothes or warm your home in the winter.

 

Once natural gas is produced, it's transmitted through gathering lines and delivered to central take points (also known as hubs) then delivered to interstate pipelines. The transmission of natural gas is similar to electric transmission lines.

 

Natural gas begins the transmission process in Texas and Louisiana at the Henry Hub. The natural gas moves through large pipelines across several states into Georgia. Pipelines can vary in diameter from 38 to 42 inches wide.

 

Southern Natural Gas Company and Transco own the pipelines that transport the natural gas from hubs to compression stations all across the United States, depending on the natural gas demand. The natural gas travels through compression stations in Mississippi, Alabama and some parts of Georgia.

 

Compression stations boost the pressure and keep a continuous flow of natural gas moving through the pipelines. Higher consumption of natural gas requires an increase of pressure at each station. Typically, consumption is higher during the winter months.

 

Next, the natural gas is transmitted to take points. Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC), owner of the pipelines connected to your gas supply, has its own take points across Georgia.

 

AGLC's metering stations measure gas volumes, pressure and the temperature of the gas coming into their system from the interstate pipeline. They use a gas chromatograph to measure the BTU's (British thermal units) or the heat content of the flowing gas. This heat content allows us to bill in therms. A therm is 100,000 BTU's. A BTU is roughly equivalent to the amount of heat produced by one kitchen match.

 

AGLC distributes the gas through a collection of mains throughout Georgia.

These mains begin at the various interstate pipeline take points or metering stations. AGLC considers certain geographic areas to be pooling areas. There are 9 pooling areas: Athens, Atlanta, Ex Atlanta Southern Natural Gas, Augusta, Brunswick, Macon, Rome, Savannah and Valdosta.

 

Natural gas runs through the distribution mains to local industries, businesses and residencies, where it's metered by AGLC representatives. AGLC not only reads the meter, but also calculates the consumption of natural gas by the individual consumers.

 

So what's the difference between AGLC and Walton EMC Natural Gas (WEMCNG)? AGLC owns the pipelines that deliver the natural gas to your home or business. They also own the meter that monitors your gas consumption. Since AGLC owns the pipelines, you would call them when you have a gas leak or any other emergency.

 

Georgia natural gas marketers, including WEMCNG, sell natural gas to consumers and bill them for their natural gas usage. WEMCNG provides competitive, low rates for natural gas all across the state. Go to the Public Service Commission's website and see for yourself that you're paying the lowest price for natural gas as a WEMCNG customer. But don't just look at the current month; compare prices from August, July and so on.

 

The next time you turn on your gas stove or gas dryer, think about how far the natural gas traveled before entering your home or business. For more information on the production of natural gas, go to naturalgas.org.

 

Read other articles from The Walton EMC Gasette:

	Radon - Is It in Your Home?
	Gas News
	Gas Up the Stove - Zucchini Fritters

 

 

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