Distributes

Revenue decoupling, which seeks to separate a local distribution company’s (LDC) revenues from the volume of gas it distributes, is only available to gas utilities in nine states, but it’s gaining in popularity and is on the minds of many executives.

Prompted by overall strength in its various segments and the addition of Centra Gas, British Columbia-based BC Gas Inc. posted earnings of C$105.8 million or C$2.45/share for 2002, compared to earnings of C$84.6 million or C$2.21/share for the same period in 2001.

Piedmont Natural Gas, which distributes gas to about 710,000 customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, said Thursday that its residential customers will see reduced rates yet again beginning Feb.1 because of reductions in the company’s wholesale costs. The rate reductions will be the seventh since last winter for North Carolina and the fifth for South Carolina customers.