Through its National Energy Choice program, NEChoice LLC, aBoston-based energy aggregator, said it will offer gas tocommercial, industrial and municipal users in Massachusetts andRhode Island. The program offers savings of 10 to 25% off gassupply. National Energy Choice chose e prime to provide gas to itscustomers from a field of 50 competitors.

“National Energy Choice has already brought new electricityoptions to its customers,” said Stephen J. Remen, managing directorof National Energy Choice. “Now with our natural gas program, weare offering another money-saving opportunity to our customers.”

The National Energy Choice program offers contract terms ofeither one or two years, and customers can pick from two contracttypes: fixed percentage savings or fixed price. In thefixed-percentage savings option, customers will be guaranteed apercentage off the utility rate for gas regardless of anyfluctuations in market price. In the fixed-price option, customerslock in their rate for the term of the contract. Savingspercentages for customers may fluctuate under this option. NationalEnergy Choice earns a fee by sharing a percentage of the savings itobtains for customers.

National Energy Choice’s announcement comes after Massachusettsvoters demonstrated their desire for choice in their electricbills. Currently, commercial and industrial customers are able tochoose their own gas supplier. Residential customers statewide areexpected to be able to choose a supplier by mid-1999.

Christopher House, a Worcester-based nursing home and member ofthe Massachusetts Extended Care Federation, has already signed upfor the National Energy Choice program. The nursing home, whichselected the fixed-price option, is currently saving 25% – about$6,000 annually – off the natural gas supply portion of its bill.

The gas program also is offered to Massachusetts cities andtowns through the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s (MMA)MunEnergy program. MunEnergy, formed by the MMA and administered byNational Energy Choice, offers energy savings to municipalitiesthrough a variety of measures. “MunEnergy has successfully savedMassachusetts municipalities money with its innovative electricityprogram,” said Geoffrey Beckwith, executive director of the MMA.”We look forward to building on this success with this newinitiative to save cities and towns money on their natural gasbills.”

National Energy Choice was able to negotiate favorable gas ratesbecause it is an energy aggregator that pools different gas usersto create a large buying group. Together, these energy users areable to take advantage of the low prices that economies of scalecreate. The deadline for participation in the program is Feb. 19.

Joe Fisher, Houston

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