Natural Gas Update
Summary: if 51 out of 78 Homes say "YES," then FREE Gas Piping
Foxmoor needs your feedback -- see below
October 2014Drew reached out to PSNC to tell them our numbers and they agreed to knock 5 off our needed total, but we are still coming up short (count below). As a reminder, we only need a commitment of a minimum of a heating system OR gas hot water heater.
If you've changed your mind or never given us your position -- Give us feedback!
Send an e-mail with "Natural Gas" in the subject to:
Please use this e-mail address and not the normal "board" e-mail, we want to be able to collect all the feedback in one place.
June 2014
Hi Mr. Weigand,
Please allow me to give you some info as it relates to the possibility of natural gas service for the Foxmoor Sub. off Lake Wheeler Rd.
Now that we have a project in the works close by at the intersection of Ten Ten Rd. / Lake Wheeler Rd. our lines will be closer than ever before as you and other neighbors realize.
In order to look into the request we will need to conduct a feasibility study which takes in account the cost to serve a project and the potential revenue which comes from the number of homes that desire service and the appliances they will bring on service with us.
I have pulled some loose measurements on just how much piping we will need to extend to put gas in front of every home in the neighborhood and it looks like we will need to extend around 8,400' of gas line total. For that amount of piping we would normally need approx. 56 homes to agree to sign contracts with us. Each of the homes would have to agree to come on service with a minimum of a heating system OR gas hot water heater. If we can achieve the proper number of homes we would agree to extend the lines in without costs to the homeowners wanting service. This does not mean that we would extend the lines down the road and then charge a tap/connection fee to get it to the home. We will be able to extend all the way to the home without costs which includes the meter and regulator (everything we need to serve the home gas service).
If we have a feasible project the only costs that the homeowner would incur would be to address the appliances which will need converting or replacing depending on the current fuel source and manufacturer of the appliance. if most of the homes in the neighborhood are all electric for the 2 major appliances in the home (heating and hot water heater) we will normally have a hard time getting the numbers to work out to have a feasible project. If most of the homes heat their home with propane we will normally have a very high interest due to the escalating cost of propane the last few years.
Now that I have shed some light on some of the details regarding natural gas service if you have some questions you would like to ask that would be fine by me. If you think we have a shot at obtaining the number we will need to have a shot at getting service brought in feel free to share the survey I have attached above. You may collect them all to keep track of who has responded or not or they can be faxed or e-mailed back to me by each homeowner.
Regards,
-Matt
Matthew Koehl
PSNC Energy
New Business Representative
3516 Spring Forest Rd.
Raleigh, N.C. 27616
Foxmoor needs your feedback
This opportunity does have some cost associated with it, the minimum commitment would be a hot water heater. A basic natural gas hot water heater is about $300 at Lowes and would probably cost a couple hundred to install (let us know if we should update these costs). The upside would be no more propane tanks.
Please send us your feedback -- are you in, out, need more information? Have some information to pass along...
Send an e-mail with "Natural Gas" in the subject to:
Please use this e-mail address and not the normal "board" e-mail, we want to be able to collect all the feedback in one place.
So far:
| Yes | 37 |
| No | 25 |
Most are excited about getting rid of their propane tank and a realtor in the neighborhood said "As a realtor I can tell you having natural gas in the neighborhood would be a positive to house appreciation values."
The "No's" mostly come from homeowners who recently made an investment into their electric equipment.
Additional questions: (answers pasted in from other e-mail responses)
1. With what happend to natural gas during snowmageddon this past January/February, are we going to be paying an arm & a leg if something similar were to happen again?
Answer: natural gas is regulated, so there is a summer and a winter rate. there would be no gouging like the unregulated propane companies can get away with.
2. Water Heater - Are natural gas water heaters allowed in our crawl space? If not, who pays for relocating?
Answer: gas water heaters need at least 6-18" of ventilation around all sides and top – in my house the water heater is in a closet in the garage – I may have to replace the door or otherwise make provisions to allow for ventilation.
3. Gas Logs - If we change gas logs from propane to natural gas, would this be considered a major heating system?
Answer: No answer yet.
4. What is the general timeline for installing the natural gas lines? Months, years?
Answer: No answer yet.
5. In the letter from PSNC they say that they will run the natural gas line to the house, but what additional work needs to be done to get the lines into the house and the appliance(s) hooked up? Is this cost included in the estimate for installing a natural gas water heater? Would it be possible to add other natural gas appliances like a stove/oven and what kind of costs would that entail (beyond the cost of the appliance)? After the lines are run into the house would inspections be required, like from the county?
Answer: No answer yet.
6. Would our current propane gas log system be able to switch over to natural gas or would we need a new setup for natural gas?
Answer: I will need a conversion on my grill to run on Natural Gas, and will likely need to replace my gas logs.
7. How about safety?
Answer: Gas is very safe these days.
Pilot lights are a thing of the past. Everything lights electronically.
Having a gas anything, it is always good to have a carbon monoxide detector in the home.
8. If Natural Gas becomes available in our subdivision and a homeowner does NOT go immediately on Natural gas...
Is there a time frame required to take advantage of the free piping?
Is there a cost after that time frame?
Do you know what the cost would be if someone add gas later?
Are other options available for Natural Gas to the home? I assume once gas is run to the home any gas appliance could be attached .. but if the major appliances are not to be replaced immediately, are the smaller appliances an option under the same arrangement?
Cooking?
Gas grills and fireplaces (replacement of propane)?
How much yard disruption is required to run the gas lines to the house?
Does PSNC “repair” the dug areas?
I assume if they “hit” something they will fix it? (I’ve had bad experiences with TimeWarner Cable burying lines)
Do you know if PSNC is using fracking to obtain the natural gas?
Are we able to get a group discount for the units and appliances?
Answer: partial answer:
Fracking? -- No, not at this time. The natural gas is coming from the Texas, Louisiana land & offshore through Transco Pipeline which is owned the Williams Companies, Inc.
In this area, PSNC’s natural gas is being transported by Cardinal Pipeline Company which is a 24 inch pipeline covering 105 miles beginning in Reidsville, NC. The Cardinal is owned by three different gas companies and operated by the Williams Companies, Inc., as they hold majority ownership. I (Foxmoor Homeowner) have worked for the Williams Companies, Inc. for the past 38 years and have been assigned to the Cardinal since 1999. Duke/Progress Energy is one of our largest consumers of natural gas; they use natural gas to generate power for their equipment which produces electricity. When you flip on the light switch or use electricity in your home, natural gas was used in the process.
Reasons why Duke/Progress Energy uses natural gas: Natural gas is cheaper than any other fuel in helping to generate electricity, burns cleaner than other fuels, and is an abundant resource in America.
9. How much yard disruption would there be and how long would we be inconvenienced before the project was completed?
Answer: No answer yet.
For More information: http://www.psncenergy.com
One Current Foxmoor Homeowner Lived in Morrisville with PSNC:
I had PSNC in Morrisville – no complaints.
I paid an average of $270/mo for a gas and electric combined, with a gas water heater and gas heat from Jan-Jul 2011. I paid an average of $231/mo last year, here.
My house here is about 500 sq ft smaller than the house in Morrisville.
I don't know if there is a direct comparison, but for the same people and habits, I paid $217.85 average for electricity in 2012; $231 average for electricity in 2013.
