Residential

The Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) voted 4-1 Tuesday to reconsider its order in April that freezes Atlanta Gas Light Co.’s residential rates, sharply reducing its annual revenues.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) said last week that Walton EMC Natural Gas has the lowest variable rate plan for residential customers of any of the Georgia marketers for the month of March, while ACN Energy has the highest.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) on Tuesday said Walton EMC Natural Gas has the lowest variable rate plan for residential customers of any of the Georgia marketers for the month of March, while ACN Energy has the highest.

An increase in residential customers may have spelled the difference between the 3.5 Bcf of gas used by Xcel Energy’s Colorado customers over the recent four-day Thanksgiving weekend, compared to 3 Bcf for the holiday weekend a year ago. Temperatures were nearly the same, with an average daily temperature of 30.5 degrees Fahrenheit this year compared to an average daily temperature of 31 degrees last year. “We had about 39,000 more customers in September 2004 than we had in September 2003,” the last month for which comparative figures are available, according to Xcel spokesman Mark Stutz. In September 2003, Xcel had 1,078,009 customers, compared to the recent month’s 1,117,851. Although Xcel is seeing “modest” customer growth in its Front Range territory, most of the increase is coming in its western mountain resort area where new natural gas service is now available and is replacing electric heating. Stutz said the trend is not confined to Xcel. “All the utilities in the mountain area are seeing the switch from electric and propane to natural gas.”

An increase in residential customers may have spelled the difference between the 3.5 Bcf of gas used by Xcel Energy’s Colorado customers over the recent four-day Thanksgiving weekend, compared to 3 Bcf for the holiday weekend a year ago. Temperatures were nearly the same, with an average daily temperature of 30.5 degrees Fahrenheit this year compared to an average daily temperature of 31 degrees last year. “We had about 39,000 more customers in September 2004 than we had in September 2003,” the last month for which comparative figures are available, according to Xcel spokesman Mark Stutz. In September 2003, Xcel had 1,078,009 customers, compared to the recent month’s 1,117,851. Although Xcel is seeing “modest” customer growth in its Front Range territory, most of the increase is coming in its western mountain resort area where new natural gas service is now available and is replacing electric heating. Stutz said the trend is not confined to Xcel. “All the utilities in the mountain area are seeing the switch from electric and propane to natural gas.”

Residential natural gas customers should expect “upward pressure” on prices this upcoming winter due mostly to an expanding economy, potentially colder than normal weather and a tight balance between supply and demand, the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) said in its outlook for the 2004-2005 winter heating season that was released last Thursday.

Residential natural gas customers should expect “upward pressure” on prices this upcoming winter due mostly to an expanding economy, potentially colder than normal weather and a tight balance between supply and demand, the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) said in its outlook for the 2004-2005 winter heating season that was released Thursday.

Reflecting the nose-dive in wholesale prices, Southern California Gas Co. in July whacked its retail prices to residential and small business customers by 48%, dropping from 52.1 cents/therm in June to 27 cents this month.

Reflecting the nose-dive in wholesale prices, Southern California Gas Co. in July whacked its retail prices to residential and small business customers by 48%, dropping from 52.1 cents/therm in June to 27 cents this month.