The lights will shine in the city of Columbus, OH, for at leastthe next five years if CMS Energy Corp. has anything to say aboutit. CMS Marketing, Services and Trading (CMS-MST) reported lastweek that it has been awarded a long term contract to providewholesale electricity and other energy services to the city’s13,000 residential and commercial customers.

“This contract will protect Columbus’ municipal utility from therisk of sharp increases in the price of electricity,” said TamelaW. Pallas, president of CMS Marketing, Services and Trading. Themarketer will manage the risks both of existing and new contracts.

Under the agreement, CMS-MST will supply the entire electricitydemand for Columbus’ Division of Electricity over a five-yearperiod commencing January 1, 2001. In addition to the residentialand commercial customers, the agreement encompasses the electricityneeds of all of the city’s buildings and streetlights. Themunicipal utility in the past has served a peak demand of 147 MWwhich was set back in July 1999. CMS’ bid won the contract overseveral other electricity marketers.

Alex Steis

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