TECO Energy’s Peoples Gas unit is cutting up to 240 jobs due toits decision to discontinue the gas piping, appliance installationand repair business effective July 15.

“We have recently completed a business review at Peoples Gasbegun prior to our acquisition of Peoples,” said President WilliamN. Cantrell. “We’ve concluded that the appropriate focus forPeoples Gas is growing its customer base by expanding end-use gasdelivery throughout Florida.”

Cantrell said the appliance installation and repair business wasnot a good fit with the business plan. In addition, Peoples Gasalready has accelerated its partnership with natural gas appliancedealers who can offer a wide array of appliances and applianceservice at competitive prices. Peoples Gas propane operations arenot affected by the reductions.

Positions will be eliminated through a combination of voluntaryearly retirements, voluntary separation packages and severance forsome layoffs. “None of the reductions at Peoples Gas will carryover into other TECO businesses,” said Girard F. Anderson, TECOEnergy CEO.

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