The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved Columbia Gasof Pennsylvania’s restructuring settlement, making the company thefirst to gain commission approval under the guidelines set forththis summer in the Natural Gas Choice and Competition Act. Thesettlement, which included 26 parties, allows Columbia to advanceits choice program, expand its customer assistance program (CAP)statewide, and provide telephonic and Internet enrollment.

As part of the settlement, Columbia Gas will continue to delivernatural gas-regardless of from whom consumers purchase it-to all382,000 customers throughout its service territory. Parties to thesettlement are the staff of the Pennsylvania Public UtilityCommission, the Office of the Consumer Advocate’s Office, theOffice of Small Business Advocate, energy suppliers/marketers,labor organizations, and natural gas distribution and pipelinecompanies, along with several municipalities.

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