Despite warnings, state and federal data show that there should be a gas supply cushion this winter. In 2012, Pacific Gas & Electric, SoCal Gas, and San Diego Gas & Electric together sent out an average of 3,850MMcf/day to both core consumers—residential, commercial, and industrial for direct use—as well to fossil-fueled electric generators in 2012. Those utilities account for a portion of gas consumption. Other utilities, such as munis, also buy imported and stored gas, as well as industrial customers with direct contracts. Still, data reveal that, in theory, there’s no looming gas supply shortage. Supplies were almost twice that much coming from out-of-state and in-state sources. Here are some of the numbers: * A statewide survey of 2013 gas supply data submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission showed 6,774 MMcf/day in 2012 from all sources coming into California, with most of the supplies from the El Paso, Transwestern, GTN, and Kern River pipelines. That’s what’s been available as utilities and other customers buy supply. * In the last five years, this highest winter gas send out in the state was 10,382 MMcf/day on Dec. 17, 2008. Last year, the highest send out was on Dec. 19 at 9,842 MMcf/day. That’s what utilities deliver, including stored and other imported gas sources.
