Utah PSC hearing reviews settlement to authorize limited WexPro horizontal drilling pilot with $55 million cap

Enbridge Gas Utah and state utility regulators presented a confidential settlement stipulation to the Utah Public Service Commission on a proposed limited horizontal drilling pilot under the WexPro program, and the commission took the matter under advisement.

Austin Summers, identified himself as director of regulatory and pricing for Enbridge Gas in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho and summarized the agreement as resolving Docket 26‑057‑03. He told the commission, "The settlement stipulation resolves the issues in docket number 26‑057‑03 concerning Enbridge Gas Utah's request for authorization to conduct a limited horizontal drilling pilot program on existing WexPro properties," and urged approval given the program's cost caps and oversight.

The settlement, as summarized by Summers and supported by Division and Office of Consumer Services witnesses, narrows the company’s original request. Key terms include a maximum pilot duration of four years and a capital cap of $55 million unless the commission explicitly approves an increase. The stipulation reduces the number of wells and limits drilling to a single field, the parties said.

The agr…