Scana Energy will continue as the regulated provider of natural gas for special groups in Georgia for two more years, the Georgia Public Service Commission said Thursday. It wasn’t a difficult decision. Scana was the only marketer to bid on the contract to supply low income customers (Group 1) and customers with bad credit because they failed to pay their bills (Group 2).

The new contract will provide savings for senior citizen Group 1 customers. The low-income senior citizen discount rate will decrease from 2 cents to 10 cents per therm, and their monthly customer service charge will drop by $1.00 to $3.95. Also, the $100 deposit will be waived for new senior citizen Group 1 customers. Scana works with the state welfare department to determine eligible customers who are below the poverty line.

“Our hope is that these new savings will result in more eligible seniors and low-income citizens taking advantage of this vital program,” said George Devlin, vice president and general manager of Scana Energy.

Group 2 customers pay a premium rate to compensate for their bad credit with the nine other marketers in the Georgia retail market.

The contract extension begins Sept. 1, 2005 and runs through Aug. 30, 2007 with an option for a one year extension. Scana has served as the Regulated Provider in the Atlanta Gas Light service territory since the program’s inception in September 2002 following legislation enacted by the 2002 Georgia General Assembly. Approximately 65,000 Georgians are currently receiving service under both programs.

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