Sonja Ebron
2005-06-08 12:52:34 UTC
This month's energy tip: Air conditioning use in the summer causes
electric rates to rise, while natural gas rates rise in the winter due
to heating demands. Since 2000, though, summertime has also brought
increases in natural gas rates. That's because most new power plants
use natural gas for fuel, raising demand for it long before cold
weather sets in.
You'll notice a couple things different this month. First, since
natural gas rates are so unpredictable, we are no longer certain that a
fixed rate is always the best option. So we're listing variable rates
along with fixed rates, but we advise paying close attention each month
in case you need to lock one in for the next 12 months. Second, you'll
see new marketers on the list. There's ACN Energy, which was left off
in the past because they only offer variable rates. And there's
blackEnergy, which should have been included every time. Strictly
speaking, we are not a "marketer" (our Georgia cooperative is supplied
by Infinite Energy), but our rates are different and competitive, and
you ought to be aware of them.
Marketers quote only the gas rates, but your bill includes customer
service fees and other charges that add up. Be sure to compare rates on
an "Apples-to-Apples" basis, which includes everything on your bill
except taxes. Here are the "Apples-to-Apples" per-therm rates offered
by Georgia marketers this month:
1) ACN Energy (877-226-5389): $2.23 Variable
2) blackEnergy (www.blackenergy.com): $1.93 Variable or $1.44 Fixed
3) Coweta-Fayette EMC (877-RINGEMC): $1.91 Variable or $1.35 Fixed
4) GasKey (877-GAS-1KEY): $1.96 Variable or $1.35 Fixed
5) Georgia Natural Gas (877-850-6200): $2.02 Variable or $1.39 Fixed
6) Infinite Energy (877-342-5434): $2.03 Variable or $1.44 Fixed
7) Scana Energy (877-GO-SCANA): $1.99 Variable or $1.40 Fixed
8) Shell Energy (877-67-SHELL): $2.01 Variable or $1.35 Fixed
9) Southern Company Gas (866-SOCO-GAS): $1.93 Variable or $1.39 Fixed
10) Vectren Source (866-200-5693): $1.95 Variable or $1.41 Fixed
11) Walton EMC (866-WEMCGAS): $1.88 Variable or $1.33 Fixed
[See
http://www.psc.state.ga.us/gas/marketerpricing/2005/June05/june05gmpl.asp
for more info.]
Contact your chosen marketer to sign up for a monthly variable rate or
one-year fixed rate. They'll order Atlanta Gas Light to transfer your
account, and you'll be switched to your new marketer on the 1st of next
month if you call by the 19th.
Sonja Ebron
blackEnergy
http://www.blackenergy.com/
Energy Co-ops... the Power to Empower
electric rates to rise, while natural gas rates rise in the winter due
to heating demands. Since 2000, though, summertime has also brought
increases in natural gas rates. That's because most new power plants
use natural gas for fuel, raising demand for it long before cold
weather sets in.
You'll notice a couple things different this month. First, since
natural gas rates are so unpredictable, we are no longer certain that a
fixed rate is always the best option. So we're listing variable rates
along with fixed rates, but we advise paying close attention each month
in case you need to lock one in for the next 12 months. Second, you'll
see new marketers on the list. There's ACN Energy, which was left off
in the past because they only offer variable rates. And there's
blackEnergy, which should have been included every time. Strictly
speaking, we are not a "marketer" (our Georgia cooperative is supplied
by Infinite Energy), but our rates are different and competitive, and
you ought to be aware of them.
Marketers quote only the gas rates, but your bill includes customer
service fees and other charges that add up. Be sure to compare rates on
an "Apples-to-Apples" basis, which includes everything on your bill
except taxes. Here are the "Apples-to-Apples" per-therm rates offered
by Georgia marketers this month:
1) ACN Energy (877-226-5389): $2.23 Variable
2) blackEnergy (www.blackenergy.com): $1.93 Variable or $1.44 Fixed
3) Coweta-Fayette EMC (877-RINGEMC): $1.91 Variable or $1.35 Fixed
4) GasKey (877-GAS-1KEY): $1.96 Variable or $1.35 Fixed
5) Georgia Natural Gas (877-850-6200): $2.02 Variable or $1.39 Fixed
6) Infinite Energy (877-342-5434): $2.03 Variable or $1.44 Fixed
7) Scana Energy (877-GO-SCANA): $1.99 Variable or $1.40 Fixed
8) Shell Energy (877-67-SHELL): $2.01 Variable or $1.35 Fixed
9) Southern Company Gas (866-SOCO-GAS): $1.93 Variable or $1.39 Fixed
10) Vectren Source (866-200-5693): $1.95 Variable or $1.41 Fixed
11) Walton EMC (866-WEMCGAS): $1.88 Variable or $1.33 Fixed
[See
http://www.psc.state.ga.us/gas/marketerpricing/2005/June05/june05gmpl.asp
for more info.]
Contact your chosen marketer to sign up for a monthly variable rate or
one-year fixed rate. They'll order Atlanta Gas Light to transfer your
account, and you'll be switched to your new marketer on the 1st of next
month if you call by the 19th.
Sonja Ebron
blackEnergy
http://www.blackenergy.com/
Energy Co-ops... the Power to Empower