2022 Agenda

Washington, DC is a busy place in a normal year. This year, being an election year, means there is even more activity. In addition to possible changes to the majority in Congress, the President and his Administration is very active. Listen in to this presentation to learn about all that is going on, especially as it relates to natural gas distribution operators and all in the natural gas supply chain. You may even hear who is going to win in the November elections! You will hear a prediction at least! Also, if you think your opinion doesn’t matter to policymakers, you definitely want to attend this session. You will learn that you should engage and how to get your voice heard. Don't miss it!

Oil and gas assets and infrastructure have emerged as the biggest target for cyberattacks over the last five years. On top of that, the majority of breaches can be traced to a third party or external user. Preventing these breaches is a top priority of cybersecurity teams and must be a coordinated effort among not just security, but also third-party risk management, compliance, and even the business line where these third parties are being engaged. An evaluation from a former counterintelligence agent unearths an approach many organizations have yet to consider – one that assesses the person, or identity, not just the third-party vendor as an organization. Identity security is becoming an essential component of third-party risk, particularly as the alternative workforce grows and many companies place more trust in third parties. The fact that most organizations lack a proven means of managing, controlling and monitoring third party access presents significant risk. During this session, we’ll shed more light on this topic and discuss straightforward ways to close the identity gap in third-party risk.

This Panel of Utility and Industrial Gas Buyers bring their unique perspectives on various aspects across the commercial natural gas chain. Topics include:

Current Market Conditions (Supply, Demand, Pricing):
1. Do you see current commodity pricing continuing at current levels? Is price volatility an issue? How do these conditions affect your gas purchasing strategies?
2. Have there been any recent unusual weather events that have presented challenges for your operations?
3. Does global demand for natural gas and increased LNG exports from the United States affect your supply strategy?

Supply Arrangement Preferences
1. Are suppliers (producers/marketers) meeting your expectations for effective supply arrangements? What more could they be doing?
2. Given current market conditions, many oil & gas producers have adjusted strategies and market approaches. As a result, have you made changes to your gas supplier line-up?
3. Does your company make purchases of renewable natural gas (RNG)? Do you encounter a price premium for RNG? What is your strategy for addressing any price premium?
4. What is your strategy for managing storage going into winter 2022/2023?

Energy Transition
1. What expectations do you have for suppliers (producers/marketers) to develop new product offerings incorporating a lower carbon footprint (e.g. carbon offsets, carbon capture, RNG, etc.)
2. Are the renewable percentage targets being imposed by various lawmakers practically achievable?
3. In order to meet low carbon targets being set by policy makers, what do you expect the price impact to be on ratepayers?
4. Are low carbon affecting your purchasing strategies?
5. Are ESG policies affecting your purchasing strategies?
6. Has your company set GHG goals for itself? How do these affect your gas purchasing strategies?

Midstream
1. Are there currently constraints in obtaining sufficient pipeline capacity to meet requirements? Do you expect constraints this winter?
2. New pipeline expansion projects are becoming increasingly difficult to complete. Do you expect insufficient pipeline capacity in the future to be problematic in meeting demand requirements?
3. In light of challenges with obtaining new pipeline capacity, are you employing innovative delivery solutions such as virtual pipeline, small-scale LNG, CNG, etc.?

Regulatory / Policy
1. What are the implications of current policy mandates (federal, state, local) on your gas supply arrangements?
2. Are net zero and very low carbon intensity targets achievable by the dates being mandated?
3. How do prohibitions on new gas connections impact your operations?

Utility Buyers
1. What constraints do regulatory requirements place on your ability to structure gas supply arrangements?
2. What challenges do you encounter in obtaining regulatory approval for gas supply plans?

Industrial Buyers
1. How significant is the price of natural gas in managing your operations?
2. How much of an impact do recent higher commodity prices have on the price of products you manufacture?
3. How do you manage natural gas price volatility in your operations?