Retail

Reliant Energy Thermal Systems, an unregulated affiliate ofReliant Energy’s Retail Group, is providing energy managementservices to the Astrodomain Complex for SMG/LMI, contractor to theHarris County (TX) Management Corp. The stadium and exhibitioncomplex is made up of Houston’s Astrodome, Astrohall andAstroArena. SMG/LMI contracted with Reliant Energy Thermal Systemsfor an initial three-year period to provide operation andmaintenance of the cooling and heating plants, including HVAC(heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) systems; maintenanceof the plumbing, electrical, and lighting systems; and utilitymanagement and new plant consulting services. The effective date ofthe contract was April 1, with renewal options. Other terms are notbeing disclosed.

Energy America, the Sempra Energy affiliate that was forced by NewJersey’s Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to halt retail activitiesbecause of slamming charges last December, reached a final agreementwith the NJBPU and New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (NJDCA)that will allow it to resume efforts to sign up New Jersey residentialand small-business customers. Under the settlement, Energy Americawill contribute $140,000 each to the NJBPU and NJDCA to furtherconsumer education on energy deregulation and to fund futureinvestigative and enforcement activities. By March Energy America willbegin to deliver electricity to its customers, when local utilityPublic Service Electric & Gas is expected to complete theelectronic switchover for customer accounts. After the Sempraaffiliate halted its activities in December, it spent five weeksrevising its marketing and training materials (see Daily GPI, Jan. 21)

Faced with the possibility of loosing its electric marketinglicense in New Jersey because of seedy marketing maneuvers,Sempra’s Energy America cut a deal with the state’s Board of PublicUtilities last week, agreeing to halt its marketing efforts for athree-week span, retrain its agents and stop all “unconscionablemarketing tactics.”

GreenMountain.com, a retail electricity marketer with a penchantfor things environmental, will plant a tree in honor of allPennsylvanians who use its “Tree-Free Billing” program —otherwise known as an Internet account.

Reliant Energy Retail Group and Luby’s Restaurants LP of SanAntonio, TX, made a multi-year energy services agreement fornon-regulated Reliant Energy Solutions Inc. to develop andimplement a comprehensive energy management services program forall Luby’s locations in the United States.

California Gov. Gray Davis has signed a bill severely limitingthe future of retail gas unbundling in the state, keeping it on aseparate, more restricted track than electricity. AB 1421 replacesa one-year ban on further gas unbundling passed last year by thestate legislature. The measure was strongly backed byinvestor-owned utilities and utility unions.

California Gov. Gray Davis has signed a bill severely limitingthe future of retail gas unbundling in the state, keeping it on aseparate, more restricted track than electricity. AB 1421 replacesa one-year ban on further gas unbundling passed last year by thestate legislature. The measure was strongly backed byinvestor-owned utilities and utility unions (see Daily GPI, Sept.13).

One year after opening its entire Ohio territory to retail gassupplier competition, Columbia Gas of Ohio said nearly 500,000customers, or about one-third of those eligible, are buying gasfrom marketers rather than the utility. Columbia serves 1.3 millioncustomers in the state.

One year after opening its entire Ohio territory to retail gassupplier competition, Columbia Gas of Ohio said nearly 500,000customers, or about one-third of those eligible, are buying gasfrom marketers rather than the utility. Columbia serves 1.3 millioncustomers in the state.