Shell Energy Services LLC is offering Georgia retail customers aweatherproof bill for their gas purchases. The bill sets flatmonthly charges for consumers’ natural gas bills, which Shellguarantees for a full 12 months. The program is different fromother “budget” billing plans, Shell said, because there is noyear-end adjustment or “true-up,” no matter how cold it gets in thewinter. For a limited time, consumers may sign up for the ShellEnergy WeatherProof(SM) Bill by calling 1-877-56-SHELL or byvisiting the Shell Energy Web site at www.shellenergy.com. Afterthey provide qualifying information, customers are told exactly howmuch their monthly natural gas bill will be for the next 12 months.The calculation is based on a computer program analysis ofmulti-decade weather patterns for their respective regions ofGeorgia. The analysis is combined with the 12-month historicalnatural gas usage at the consumer’s residence and the then-currentguaranteed rate per therm-now 39 cents for Shell Energy naturalgas.

Calpine Corp. announced Thursday it entered into an agreementwith Austin, Texas-based GenTex Power Corp. to build, own andoperate a $225 million natural gas-fired power plant in BastropCounty, Texas, 30 miles Southeast of Austin. The new project willbe developed through a 50/50 joint venture. The proposed facility,called Lost Pines I, will provide 500 MW to the growing centralTexas wholesale power market.

The project represents the first private/public venture betweena public power organization and an independent power producer inTexas, Calpine said. Construction of the facility is expected tobegin in October 1999, with the plant entering operations in June2001. Calpine will manage all phases of project development. Uponcommercial operation, GenTex will take half of the electricaloutput from Lost Pines I for sale to its customer base. Calpinewill market the remaining energy to the deregulated wholesale powermarket through its Houston-based power marketing organization.

Calpine owns and operates more than 1,100 MW of capacity inTexas, with 1,500 MW of capacity in construction or underdevelopment.

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