Newsletter November 2003.Pub
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
GPSC GPSC News Making Business and Safety Decisions Affecting Tomorrow Fall 2003 Volume 3 Issue 2 Consumer Winter Prepared- ness Meeting *Commission Staff *Gas Marketers Consumer Preparedness *Community Groups *Other state agencies *Messages to Consumers Meeting Sets Tone for Winter In this issue epresentatives from R natural gas marketers, Commission Energy America plans to 2 staff, other state agencies leave Georgia and community groups participated in the Commission-sponsored NARUC Convention Here 2 2003-04 Consumer Winter Preparedness Meeting on October 21 to prepare common messages to Commission Staff Takes 3 consumers in the face of Part in Community Fo- possible higher natural gas rums prices this winter. Commissioner David Burgess addresses the Winter Participants heard first Preparedness meeting Commission Issues Deci- 4 from Commssioner David sion in Georgia Power Burgess who said it was discussed were tion Rules and Fuel Case important to present a messages in the Policies;Payment unified front in following areas: Volatile Commission Resolves 4 Options;Regulated communicating with Natural Gas Provider; and Energy America Issues consumers this winter. Prices;Energy (Continued on page 2) Senate Electric Line Study 5 Among the topics Conservation;Disconnec Committee NARUC Convention Here Commission takes part in 6 Promina Walk/Run he NARUC 115th An- Stan Wise followed by Russian Official Gets 6 Natural Gas Briefing T nual Convention will the nomination be held here November speeches for the elec- 16-19, 2003 at the Atlanta tion of the NARUC of- New Employees 7 Marriott Marquis. The Con- fices of President, First vention is designed to pro- Vice President and Sec- vide professional education ond Vice President. Food Drive Underway 7 and development, while Welcome remarks will offering networking oppor- be given by Commis- Commission Calendar 8 tunities with federal and with introductory remarks sion Chairman Robert state colleagues. The Con- by NARUC President and "Bobby" Baker, Jr. Fol- State Holidays 8 vention will commence our own Commissioner (Continued on page 2) PAGE 2 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2 Energy America Plans To Leave Georgia (from PR Newswire) nergy America announced natural gas customers in the E October 7 that it plans to deregulated Atlanta Gas Light exit the natural gas market in market. The decision to exit services. The company's Georgia and has begun nego- Georgia was made in the con- strategy will continue to focus tiations to sell its business to text of a challenging business on markets where Energy interested parties. The com- environment where it was prov- America can maximize share- pany will cooperate fully with ing difficult to achieve the nec- holder value by providing the Georgia Public Service essary scale of operation to cre- consumers with innovative Commission to ensure an or- ate real shareholder value. En- products, and offering a wide derly transition. Once transition ergy America remains commit- range of choice and compel- plans are finalized with the ted to deregulation and contin- ling value propositions in en- Commission, Energy America ues to be successful in the U.S., ergy and energy services. will communicate those plans evaluating new markets, cross to its customers. The company marketing energy with home stated that its aim was to en- services, and launching business sure that customers did not suffer any adverse conse- If you have a story for the next quences because of this deci- GPSC News, please send to Bill sion. Energy America serves Edge, [email protected]. Next approximately 50,000 Georgia issue deadline is January 15, 2004. Consumer Meeting insulating their homes, checking for leaks and taking advantage of budget billing (Continued from page 1) and fixed rate plans. Joyce Assistance Programs. Hull with the Department of Commissioner Burgess noted Human Resources outlined that industry analysts are the various financial predicting natural gas prices this assistance programs available winter could rise from 15% to through her department. At 50%. the request of Commissioner Commission economist John Burgess, Natural Gas staff Cogburn pointed out that the John Cogburn makes a point about natural gas prices organized the meeting. The days of $2 per therm natural gas meeting received extensive are probably gone. The natural consumers can save money on coverage on WAGA-TV, the gas staff explained various ways their natural gas bills by local Fox News affiliate. NARUC million into the local econ- omy. (Continued from page 1) Upcoming NARUC meetings lowing Monday’s opening session are: March 7 - 10, 2004 there will be panel discussions on (NARUC Winter Meeting), the Future of Energy, Electric Washington DC.; July 11 - 14, Regulation, Ex-parte Communica- 2004 (NARUC Summer Com- tions, Base load Capacity, Broad- mittee Meeting) Salt Lake band and DSL, Grid Reliability, City, Utah and November 14 and Ethical Challenges in Today’s Commissioner Stan Wise - 17, 2004 (116th NARUC An- Regulatory Environment. nual Convention) , Nashville, More than 1,500 people are ex- pected to attend. The NARUC Tennessee. Convention will pump about $1 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2 GPSC NEWS PAGE 3 Commission Staff Takes Part In Community Forums Making a Difference in the Participants have been educated BellSouth challenges Lives of Our Seniors on aspects of the billing and Commission Ruling By Bernard Cameron disconnect rules, how to read ellSouth has filed a chal- ver the past three and understand their gas bills, B lenge to the Commis- O months, staff in senior citizen’s discounts across sion’s June 24 decision low- Consumer Affairs has spread all industries, fixed rate versus ering the Company’s rates the message to senior citizens variable rate plans and budget for interconnection access. throughout metro Atlanta and billing. After receiving the The petition, filed in federal in parts of Southeast Georgia Commission's educational district court in Atlanta, calls that “educated consumers are package, one participant, Mrs. the ruling illegal and un- better prepared to make Jones at the DeKalb-Atlanta fair .BellSouth filed the legal informed choices regarding Senior Center in Kirkwood, said, action despite the Commis- their natural gas services.” “I guess I’ll be going to school sion’s reconsideration of its More than 1200 seniors and tonight.” action which led to the ad- community action employees In partnership with the justment of some rates. The have benefited from on-site Department of Human Commission issued its origi- workshops and Presentations Resources and Rev. Henry A. nal decision in this docket on given by Consumer Affairs Johnson (senior citizen March 24, 2003. staff members. advocate), we look forward to Changes in No Call Program A Win-Win for Consumers he Commission August Call List. Registration on the fed- T 15 announced that Federal Trade Commission (FTC. eral list is for a five year period. Georgia residential and wire- There is no fee to register on The move will save about less telephone customers the federal lists. Consumers can $500,000 in this year’s Commis- can sign up at no cost for register with the federal lists on- sion budget. “This is a win-win the Georgia list when they line at www.donotcall.gov or by situation for Georgia consumers,” also register their phone calling toll-free 1-888-382- according to Commission Chair- numbers with the new Do 1222. Georgia residential and man Robert B. Baker, “we have Not Call lists maintained by wireless telephone customers found a way to save the taxpay- the Federal Communications will no longer have to pay the ers money while increasing our Commission (FCC) and the $5 fee to be on the Georgia No services to the consumer.” The Governor’s Office of Con- court decision allowed the sumers Affairs handles all vio- federal no call registry to lations reported by Georgia continue signing up consum- residents. Over 70 companies ers. Telemarketer groups across the country have paid had filed challenges to the fines for violations of the No law and two federal courts Call legislation in 13 states. had temporarily put the list on hold. Since becoming operational in homes of individuals who have 1999, the Georgia No Call List registered their objections to has dramatically limited the receiving these types of calls. number of telemarketing calls Meanwhile, a federal appeals that can be placed to the PAGE 4 GPSC NEWS VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2 Commission Rulings Commission Issues De- recovery rate that will lower lowers the interest cision in Georgia Power residential customers’ average rate or carrying costs on any Fuel Case bills from October through under or over recovery of fuel May while increasing the aver- costs from the current 13 per- he Commission on August age bill from June through cent to one point five (1.5) T 19 approved a stipulated September. The average an- percent beginning September agreement with Georgia Power nual monthly increase for resi- 1, 2003. This decision will save on the Company‘s request for customers 44 cents per month. an increase in the Company’s Under Georgia law, the Com- Fuel Cost Recovery Allowance. pany is allowed to recover dol- The Commission vote was 3-2 lar for dollar its costs for fuel with Commissioners Robert B. used in the generation of elec- Baker and Angela Speir voting tricity. no. The approved agreement dential customers will be allows the Company to recover about 73 cents per month. Un- $157 million in under-collected der Georgia Power’s original fuel costs over an 18-month proposal, residential custom- period beginning October 1, ers would have paid $18.96 2003. The agreement also pro- more per year. vides for a seasonal fuel cost The approved agreement also Commission Resolves amendment, which Chairman Alleged Violations by Natural Gas Marketer Baker did support.