Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) said its customer choice program has been expanded, allowing another 100 commercial and industrial customers to choose from alternative suppliers. Under the Natural Gas Choice Act of 1999, all of PGW’s 520,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers will be able to choose their natural gas supplier in September 2003.

Over 100 commercial and industrial customers have signed up to participate in the pilot program to date. PGW has installed new technology, including an electronic bulletin board accessible over the Internet and software that will account for gas supply nominations, pipeline confirmations of gas supply and pilot customer gas usage.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has updated licenses of three suppliers to compete within the PGW service territory: Sprague Energy Corp., TXU Energy Retail Co. LP, and UGI Energy Services Inc. Each is also currently qualified by PGW to participate in the pilot program. An additional four suppliers are currently completing the necessary steps to participate as well.

PGW is the nation’s largest municipally-owned natural gas utility, serving a half million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Philadelphia.

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