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League City OKs franchise expansion for Universal Natural Gas; council presses company on local CNG trailer
Summary
The council approved expanding a limited franchise to Universal Natural Gas, Inc., while a council member raised safety and aesthetics concerns about a compressed natural gas (CNG) trailer located near a residence; a company representative said full connection should occur within about four to five months.
League City — The League City Council voted April 22 to amend Ordinance 2023-24 to expand the limited franchise granted to Universal Natural Gas, LLC, doing business as Universal Natural Gas, Inc., to operate and maintain a gas distribution system in League City rights of way.
During discussion, a council member raised concern about a compressed natural gas trailer operated by Sonora that has been parked near a residence for an extended period. The council member said the trailer had been in place “a year and a half, maybe two years” and expressed a desire to require the outstanding hookup be finished before expanding new hookups.
Richard Bard, senior vice president of engineering and construction for Centric Universal Natural Gas, acknowledged the delays and outlined a schedule he said would lead to completion in roughly four to five months. Bard said landowner negotiations and coordination with Energy Transfer and the future Grand Parkway alignment delayed the tap installation, and that the company wanted the temporary CNG trailer removed as soon as possible because it was costly to stage equipment there.
Bard said: “We wanted to be respectful of that. We got that Pirtle Pass. Part of that included discussions with… and then additionally to that, there's a long access road coming off the main boulevard that needs to be under construction and is under construction currently. That should be wrapped up here in about a month or so. From there, Energy Transfer will go in and make their connection, which will take them about a month and then us to make our metering and reg station connected to their site will be about another month after that.”
Council members voted to approve the ordinance expanding the utility’s limited franchise. The clerk announced the motion carried with no votes against.
