Frontier Energy LLC.

• Position: Brief Article

Natural gas is finally making its way around western North Carolina. Elkin-based Frontier Energy LLC has brought service to Surry, Yadkin and Wilkes counties, and it plans to start extending pipeline to Watauga by year-end. Gastonia-based Public Service Company of North Carolina has gone to Alexander, and Charoltte-based Piedmont Natural Gas Co. expects to break ground for Avery, Mitchell and Yancey later this year. But the utilities are finding that weaving around and across the west's protected national forests and mountains is tricky. And costly. Piedmont has had to go back to the N.C. Utilities Commission for more funding. It has requested permission to draw $11...