Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania filed its restructuring plan withthe Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission Monday in an effort toexpand its supplier choice program statewide. As part of theNatural Gas Choice and Competition Act passed by the PennsylvaniaGeneral Assembly June 17, each gas utility is required to submit arestructuring plan to the PUC by Nov. 1.

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania’s choice program ranks among thetop handful in the nation as measured by the level of participationand number of suppliers. More than 70% of the company’s 382,000customers are already able to comparison-shop for their own gassupplier. As of Aug. 1, 110,957, or more than 40% of the 278,689eligible customers will purchase their gas from an alternativesupplier.

Once approved, the Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania restructuringplan will mean several enhancements for the consumer, includingInternet enrollment, expanded consumer choice education and moredetailed bills for choice customers. The restructuring plan alsoallows Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania to continue to offer programsuppliers capacity choice. This allows suppliers to contract forthe capacity on interstate pipelines rather than assigning ColumbiaGas of Pennsylvania capacity contracts directly to suppliers.

The Natural Gas Choice and Competition Act will allow allconsumers in the state to choose an alternative gas supplier byJuly 1, 2000, and will make Pennsylvania one of the first states tooffer both gas and electric consumers choice on a statewide level.

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