Constellation Energy Gas Choice, a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corp. and a long-time competitive energy supplier in Ohio, said Tuesday that it has been selected by Trumbull County in northeastern Ohio to provide residents and small businesses with natural gas following a competitive bidding process under the state’s natural gas choice, governmental aggregation program.

“Constellation’s initial fixed rate [to customers] is lower than any other current, comparable term offer listed on [the] Public Utilities Commission of Ohio comparison charts and will help residents control their natural gas costs,” said Bruce Stewart, chief marketing officer for Constellation Energy Gas, an independent supplier of natural gas in Ohio.

Residents and small businesses participating in the Trumbull County gas program will pay a fixed rate of $4.46/Mcf for all natural gas supply consumed during the eight-month period from March through October 2013. After October and through February 2015, pricing will be determined based upon the county’s election to secure a fixed-price rate for the service period.

Residential and small commercial retail customers who choose to opt out of the aggregation program can do so by notifying Constellation by Jan. 31. Customers who do not opt out can leave the program at any time within the 24-month term without penalty, according to the utility.

Last week, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio moved the state further toward retail deregulation by approving settlements with Dominion East Ohio Gas and Columbia Gas of Ohio that would allow the local distribution companies to gradually move out of the merchant function starting with nonresidential customers (see Daily GPI, Jan. 11).

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