US utilities 'much better prepared' for hurricanes: Bodman

US utilities 'much better prepared' for hurricanes: Bodman

Washington (Platts)--28Jun2006

US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman Wednesday said he is "convinced that
the utilities [along the US Gulf Coast] are much better prepared" to respond
to another above-average hurricane season than they were a year ago when
hurricanes Rita and Katrina caused widespread power outages and crippled
oil refinery and oil and natural gas pipeline operations.

He warned however that "I don't want to glibly tell you everything is
fine" because despite lessons learned in 2005 "the vicissitudes of Mother
Nature" make it impossible to predict what kind of damage another Category 5
storm might cause.

Bodman credited the improved preparedness to a two-day meeting last year
in Tunica, Mississippi, in the aftermath of the hurricanes. The meeting
attended by Bodman and other Cabinet secretaries, state and local officials
from the South, utilities and oil and natural gas companies "made a
difference" in preparedness for this year, he said, adding that "the companies
have thought long and hard" about improving their performance this year.

Bodman's comments came at Platts Energy Podium in Washington.

For more information, listen to the 4-part podcast with Secretary Bodman at
http://www.platts.com/energypodium/podcasts/2006/june/bodman1.mp3
http://www.platts.com/energypodium/podcasts/2006/june/bodman2.mp3
http://www.platts.com/energypodium/podcasts/2006/june/bodman3.mp3
http://www.platts.com/energypodium/podcasts/2006/june/bodman4.mp3

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