General Plan Update - City of Inglewood

3.6 Natural Gas
3.6 NATURAL GAS
This section defines the existing energy service providers of the City of Inglewood,
specifically natural gas services. Information was obtained from discussions with the
Southern California Gas Company, and websites.
• Existing Conditions
Natural Gas
Natural Gas is supplied to the City of Inglewood by the Southern California Gas
Company (So Cal Gas). So Cal Gas is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility.
Natural gas is a “fossil fuel,” indicating that it comes from the ground, similar to other
hydrocarbons such as coal or oil. Currently, SCG maintains transmission and distribution
lines throughout the City. Most lines operate at a medium pressure of approximately 30
to 60 pounds per square inch (psi). Virtually all streets within the City have a buried
pipeline that is part of the So Cal Gas network.
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates So Cal Gas and is the default provider,
required by State law, for natural gas delivery to the City. So Cal Gas has the capacity and
resources to deliver gas except in certain situations that are noted in state law. As
development occurs, SCG will continue to extend its service to accommodate
development and supply the necessary gas lines.
So Cal Gas does not base its service levels on the demands of the planning area; rather it
makes periodic upgrades to provide service for particular projects and new development.
Approximately two months before construction commences on a project, So Cal Gas
requests that the developer contact them with detailed information about the project’s
natural gas requirements. If necessary, So Cal Gas customizes pipelines and mains to
better serve newly constructed facilities. The cost for such service differs from project to
project. So Cal Gas is continuously expanding its network of gas pipelines to meet the
needs of new commercial and residential developments in Southern California.
Natural Gas Units
Natural gas is usually sold by heat content, as opposed to volume. The standard units for
buying and selling gas are based on the maximum heat produced by burning the fuel,
known as the higher heating value. So Cal Gas bills retail fuel customers based on their
fuel consumption measured in therms. By contrast, gas is traded in wholesale energy
markets in quantities of millions of British Thermal Units (btu), also known as decatherms
(by definition, a therm equals 1/10th of one mmbtu).
City of Inglewood General Plan Update Technical Background Report
3.6-1