PG&E Energy Services signed a $5 million contract withPepsi-Cola General Bottlers Inc. to supply gas, energy management,and billing services to all of its Midwest manufacturing anddistribution centers.

The multi-year agreement is expected to save Pepsi’s bottlingfacilities more than $250,000 and calls for PG&E EnergyServices to supply gas to 67 manufacturing and distribution centersin Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri,Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. PG&E EnergyServices also will provide billing management services, includingaggregation and summary of bills for each facility with usagepatterns highlighted.

“When a large portion of your operating budget must go toenergy-related expenses, it is essential to find a national companywith the expertise and resources to fine-tune your efficiency andreduce operating costs,” said Gary Kowaleski energy manager forPepsi-Cola General Bottlers.

“Our agreement with Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers reinforces ourpresence in Chicago and the Midwest,” said Jim Davis PG&EEnergy Services’ senior vice president of integrated services.

Chicago-based Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers is the principaloperating company of Whitman Corp. and the nation’s largestindependently franchised Pepsi bottler not majority-owned byPepsiCo. The company operates in 12 central U.S. states, as well asPoland, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

PG&E Energy Services has more than $2 billion in long-termcontracts. The company has agreements with McDonald’s and Carl’sJr. restaurants, Safeway, Vons and Lucky grocery stores, Rite Aidand Sav-on drug stores, Neiman Marcus, ARCO gas stations andconvenience stores, Blockbuster video and music stores, IBM,Smucker’s, and others. Also, through a PG&E Corp. alliance withUltramar Diamond Shamrock, PG&E Energy Services will provideenergy services for thousands of UDS sites throughout NorthAmerica. PG&E Energy Services said it plans to compete in theIllinois electricity market when it opens to competition nextOctober.

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