Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) announced it willoffer a choice of other natural gas suppliers to an additional300,000 customers this summer, pending approval by the New JerseyBoard of Public Utilities (BPU). Less than one year ago, thecompany introduced the pilot, offering a choice of suppliers toabout 65,000 PSE&G residential customers in four New Jerseymunicipalities, Bloomfield, Piscataway, Pennsauken and Westampton.

All of PSE&G’s commercial and industrial gas customers havebeen able to purchase the commodity from third party supplierssince January 1995, as a result of the BPU’s approval ofPSE&G’s “unbundling” plan affecting approximately 180,000customers. To date, about 18,000 of those commercial and industrialcustomers, or ten percent, have elected to switch suppliers.

The proposal PSE&G plans to present on May 1 to the BPUcalls for an additional 300,000 residential natural gas customersto have a choice of suppliers beginning this September. The companysaid it will work with the BPU to phase in the balance of its 1.4million natural gas customers through New Jersey’s Energy MasterPlan process.

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