Receptive

A target of May 1 has been set to complete a review, and a pollsuggests the majority is receptive to change, but gas hunters stillface an uphill effort to remove a moratorium from a highly-ratedexploration target offshore of Canada’s West Coast.

“Owners of small businesses, intent on reducing their operatingcosts, are receptive to the idea of buying their energy supplies atreduced group rates through local or regional businessassociations,” according to a new study by RKS Research andConsulting. The North Salem, NY firm said a small businesssub-group, home-based businesses, would consider discountwarehouses and membership clubs for low-priced electricity offers.RKS also found a market emerging around the idea of bundledservices, including energy, local and long distance telephoneservice and Internet access all on one bill. While the small usersare interested in cutting costs, they can’t do without service.”Across the board, business owners say they seek long-termrelationships with suppliers who stress simplicity and ease ofuse…..They are willing to trade off price for service, qualitybrand name and convenience.”