In today’s AUSenergy News Update: Natural gas reaches $6, an amendment to the New Jersey Government Energy Aggregation Act is proposed, and higher fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks are ordered by President Obama.

Natural Gas reaches $6

Summary: Continued cold weather has increased the demand for natural gas in the Midwest and Northeast regions, hiking the price of natural gas above $6 for the first time since January, 2010.
AUS Comment: Cold weather continues to create increased volatility in the market. AUS advises against locking in anything until after the cold spell is over.

New Jersey Government Energy Aggregation Act amendment proposed

Summary: An amendment to the New Jersey Government Energy Aggregation Act has been proposed in the New Jersey General Assembly by Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer that would prevent public utilities from sending redundant notices to residential customers that have enrolled in government energy aggregation programs.
AUS Comment: Adoption of this amendment would be of great assistance to New Jersey energy customers. Currently when a GEA program is enacted, residents are bombarded with notices from both the municipality and utility and these often times lead to confusion on how someone should act. Limiting this confusion should serve to help further ensure that New Jersey residents receive the lowest rate possible for their energy.

Higher Fuel Efficiency Standards Ordered by President Obama

Summary: President Obama has placed an executive order for the development of higher fuel standards for the nation’s fleet of heavy-duty trucks. The new regulations will be drafted by the EPA and the Transportation Department by March 2015 with plans to be completed and in place by 2016.
AUS Comment: AUS supports increasing fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks. We believe it is a necessary part of a larger puzzle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We also believe that it is in the best interest of national security that we reduce our dependence on imported oil as much as possible. We hope the new regulations will spur innovation amongst vehicle makers in the development of better combustion engines and/or the increased adoption engine technologies favoring alternative fuel sources such as hybrids, plug-in EVs, CNG, and bio-diesel.