Marcellus firm Laser doesn't want to be a utility anymore, but Peregrine does - Source Pittsburgh Business Times - September 15,2011

Marcellus firm Laser doesn't want to be a utility anymore, but Peregrine does Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 8:21am EDT Anya Litvak Reporter - Pittsburgh Business Times Laser Marcellus Gathering Co., the first Marcellus Shale pipeline company to launch a much-maligned campaign to become a public utility announced its abandoning the effort. This is the explanation: “Laser’s proposed plan and intent has now changed and it: (1) is no longer willing to serve any and all potential customers; (2) will use contracts to select and serve a defined and limited group of customers; and, (3) is no longer committed to expand its facilities to meet demand of the public as would a public utility.” The withdrawal, on Sept. 8, follows a year and a half of vehement opposition from 1. other pipeline operators who worry that granting utility status would also throw them under the authority of the Public Utility Commission, and 2. citizens and group who don’t want the company to have eminent domain authority. Meanwhile, Peregrine Keystone Gas Pipeline LLC, which filed for public utility status for its planned pipeline in Greene, Fayette and Washington counties in the fall of 2010, is the middle of the same hoopla. Peregrine has been fighting off a request by opponents to table its utility application until a decision is reached in the Laser case. Peregrine’s vice president of operations Loren Fuller said Monday the company is still fully committed to its case. “It’s our intent to go forward,” he said, just learning the news about Laser. Peregrine hasn’t begun construction yet for several reasons, Fuller said: coordinating the timing of wells coming online, finalizing the financing, and the pending PUC application. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------