The Public Utility Commission of Ohio made it possible yesterdayfor 1.8 million retail gas customers in more than 64 Ohio countiesto begin choosing gas suppliers this winter. PUCO approved a hugeexpansion of Columbia Gas of Ohio’s pilot program and extended thepilots of Cincinnati Gas & Electric and East Ohio Gas.

“This program was successful last winter when it was tested, andthe benefits of the program now will be spread to about two-thirdsof Ohio,” said Ohio Gov. George V. Voinovich. In Columbia’s Toledo,OH, pilot, 60,000 customers (30% of the residential customerseligible and 46% of the eligible small commercial customers)reduced their monthly gas bills by an average of 15% and as much as18%. Customer savings have totaled $8 million, according toColumbia. And enrollment additions have remained steady at 3,000 to5,000 per month. Currently 15 suppliers are serving or activelyseeking customers. In addition, surveys have shown customerawareness of the program is 90%, with few customer complaints.

Columbia’s program now will be expanded to cover its entire 1.3million customers in the state. “Until now, Ohio’s residentialconsumers haven’t been able to comparison shop for energy,” saidColumbia Gas of Ohio President and CEO Robert C. Skaggs Jr. “TheCustomer CHOICE program gives them the same economic democracy innatural gas service that they enjoy with most other products andservices.”

The order approves the continuation of customer choice for365,000 customers in Cincinnati Gas & Electric’s territory andfor 160,000 customers of East Ohio Gas. PUCO staff had requestedEast Ohio expand its program to 500,000 customers this winter andmore than 1 million next year, but East Ohio said computer problemsrelated to billing and year 2000 glitches made the expansioninfeasible.

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