Retail

As the date of random assignment draws near in Georgia’sderegulated gas market, Georgia Natural Gas Services (GNGS) iscatching up to Scana Corp. in terms of statewide market share. Dueto its success in the race for Georgia gas customers, GNGSannounced last Monday it will open a new call center in Cobb Countyto help answer newly-acquired customers’ questions. The Atlanta GasLight (AGL) affiliate has won over one-third of the 839,000 totalswitches, second only to Scana Corp.’s 38% market share.

Due to its success in the race for Georgia gas customers,Georgia Natural Gas Services (GNGS) announced Monday it will open anew call center in Cobb County to help answer newly-acquiredcustomers’ questions. The Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) affiliate has wonover one-third of the 839,000 total switches, second only to ScanaCorp.’s 40% market share.

Gov. Bill Owens recently signed Colorado’s gas deregulationbill, SB99-153, opening the door for voluntary unbundling by thestate’s gas utilities. The question now is how many utilities willwalk through the opening?

Gov. Bill Owens signed SB99-153 last week, opening the door forvoluntary unbundling by Colorado’s gas utilities. The bill had beenpassed by the state’s House of Representatives then presented tothe Governor May 17.

Shell Energy Services LLC is offering Georgia retail customers aweatherproof bill for their gas purchases. The bill sets flatmonthly charges for consumers’ natural gas bills, which Shellguarantees for a full 12 months. The program is different fromother “budget” billing plans, Shell said, because there is noyear-end adjustment or “true-up,” no matter how cold it gets in thewinter. For a limited time, consumers may sign up for the ShellEnergy WeatherProof(SM) Bill by calling 1-877-56-SHELL or byvisiting the Shell Energy Web site at www.shellenergy.com. Afterthey provide qualifying information, customers are told exactly howmuch their monthly natural gas bill will be for the next 12 months.The calculation is based on a computer program analysis ofmulti-decade weather patterns for their respective regions ofGeorgia. The analysis is combined with the 12-month historicalnatural gas usage at the consumer’s residence and the then-currentguaranteed rate per therm-now 39 cents for Shell Energy naturalgas.

The New Mexico Legislature passed a bill opening the state’sretail electric power market to competing suppliers beginning in2001. The bill, passed unanimously by the state House ofRepresentatives a week ago, goes to Gov. Gary Johnson, who wasexpected to sign it into law.

Enron’s retail energy provider, Enron Energy Services (EES), hasnot turned a profit to date but is expected to do so by the fourthquarter of this year and “from then on,” said Marty Sunde, EES’senior vice president of sales and marketing.

The New Mexico Legislature passed a bill opening the state’sretail electric power market to competing suppliers beginning in2001. The bill, passed unanimously by the state House ofRepresentatives late Friday night, now goes to Gov. Gary Johnson,who has 20 days to sign it into law.

The Georgia Senate approved House Bill 822 by a vote of 52-0last week, paving the way for a one time, statewide customerassignment process to occur before the next heating season. Havingalready passed the House of Representatives unanimously, theamendment only needs Gov. Roy Barnes’ signature before it becomeslaw.