RE: Re: gas price(s)?

[Andy Breece]

On Oct 25, 2007, at 18:20, gflick wrote:

Andy Breece wrote:

Gere,

My average Columbia gas bill in 2006 was $1.615 per ccf.

My average Columbia gas bill in Jan-Oct 2007 was $1.448 per ccf.

I just received an offer from IGS Energy to supply gas via Columbia through Oct 2008 at $1.008 per ccf.

What's the catch????

Andy

None.  IGS only supplies the gas.  Columbia still charges for the transmission costs etc.  What you need to look at is the gas only component of the bill.  If the numbers above represent only the gas, go with IGS.  They usually lock in a rate for a year, so if the price goes down (highly unlikely), they lose.  I use IGS and it does tend to reduce the costs, at least for a year.  You can go to http://www.puco.ohio.gov/PUCO/ApplesToApples/index.cfm?navitem=leftsidebar  <http://www.puco.ohio.gov/PUCO/ApplesToApples/index.cfm?navitem=leftsidebar>  to learn more about the program.

Gere

Thanks for the info Gere - especially the link to inciteful ... insightful knowledge.

Looks like my actual billing will be $1.29 per "bottom line ccf" if I go with IGS at $1.08 per "gas only ccf".

I visited the puco.ohio.gov link you provided: [TIC] PUCO manages to do a good job ("Understanding Your Natural Gas Bill") of explaining why we need them to "help us". Part of the explanation:

 i. "Fixed RatePlan: A constant rate for the contracted period."

 ii. "Stable Rate Plan: A variable rate for a fixed period of time."

 iii."Variable RatePlan: A fluctuating rate within the contracted period."

Definitions are important when splitting-hairs; I just can't decide if item "ii." is an oxymoron or just moronic.

After a thorough analysis of the fine print and PUCO's explanation, I have concluded that 

a. I will get a bill, 

b. I had better pay it, and 

c. it will cost an arm & a leg if I change to a different supplier or revert to the NGDC.

I signed up for the IGS offer – looking forward to seeing what happens in '08.

Happy gassing,

Andy