Left to Right: MMS Director Johnnie Burton, Dan Riemer, Sharon Redding, Charlie Mertz, Rob Hain, and Minerals Revenue Management Associate Director Lucy Querques Denett

Mr. Mertz contributed significantly as MMS implemented its natural gas RIK pilots. Over a period of nearly three years and on his own initiative, Mr. Mertz reached out to key MMS RIK managers. He advised, consulted, and informed MMS on the full spectrum of issues related to natural gas production, marketing, transportation, and processing. He has consistently granted his generous and frequent assistance at levels over and above that necessary to conduct routine business between Dynegy and MMS. His commitment has proven invaluable to the growth of MMS RIK knowledge of natural gas business operations.

In the infancy of the MMS gas RIK pilots, Mr. Mertz provided MMS numerous overviews of the operation of individual pipeline systems. He explained flow characteristics, markets served, pipeline nomination and penalty procedures, processing nuances, and optionality in market and flow. He provided MRM with the primary industry points of contact for these systems. At a time when the team urgently needed education, Mr. Mertz’s efforts facilitated development of commercially attractive, standard contracting documents and sound decisionmaking.

Mr. Mertz also mentored MMS gas RIK management and staff on the nature and meaning of lease-level and pipeline imbalances and associated penalty exposures. He developed an imbalance accrual and banking mechanism that equitably priced and monitored lease and pipeline imbalances. The MMS used this process extensively in its aggregation contracts. On behalf of Dynegy Marketing and Trade, Mr. Mertz has provided a level of customer service well beyond what many midstream companies have considered typical for producer services. Nominations have never been dropped. Royalty gas has been moved and/or re-delivered despite what others would term "force majeure" situations. Communication has been frequent and timely. Responsiveness to MMS has always been a priority.

Mr. Mertz creatively and successfully demonstrated synergies between gas and liquids markets for MMS gas, a process that has directly led to greater values and competition for royalty gas.

For these reasons, Mr. Mertz is most deserving of the MMS Corporate Leadership Award.