Southcentral Alaska Confronts Critical Gas Shortage

Southcentral Alaska is facing a significant natural gas shortage this winter, with Enstar Natural Gas Co. reporting an 18-day supply shortfall under normal winter temperatures.

Enstar president John Sims told legislators that the utility had to draw down its stock of stored gas to a lower level than anticipated due to the unusually cold winter and failed expectations for deliveries from various sources.

The company is seeking additional gas supplies through a potential exchange agreement with Matanuska Electric Association, which has some excess gas in storage. However, Sims warned that such agreements cannot provide instant relief and require adequate gas storage capacity, which Southcentral Alaska currently lacks.

Commissioner John Crowther of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and director Haley Paine presented a joint overview of the state's assessment of the Cook Inlet gas supply situation, highlighting the need for continued investment in existing fields and potential future drops in production rates starting around 2033.