Competition has changed the energy industry forever, spurringcompanies to use creativity to provide real choices for all energycustomers, according to Oliver G. Richard III, CEO of ColumbiaEnergy Group, at yesterday’s plenary session of the seventh annualNatural Gas Conference sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energyand the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

“Competition is the incentive that already has made the energyindustry more responsive, more efficient, more operationallyexcellent and more focused than ever before on providing choices,value and service for all of its customers.”

Richard cited several winning differences in a competitiveenvironment – critical mass, information technology, use of storagecapacity, strategic alliances, branding and customer education.”Yet I’m convinced the single most critical differentiator in acompetitive environment will be the creativity companies employ indeveloping new opportunities to serve customers,” he said.

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