Legislation |
01/06 |
Legislation Approved to Reduce Tax on Natural Gas and Liquid Propane Sales (House Bill 970). Legislature approves tax cut
that suspends half the tax collected on consumer purchases of
natural gas from January 1 to April 30, 2006, and liquid propane
until March 31, 2006. Bill is a response to Governor Perdue's
Executive Order issued in December 2005 that suspended taxes on
natural gas. |
|
01/06 |
Legislation
Proposed to Re-Regulate Retail Gas Market (House Bill 1108
and Senate Bill 448). Proposals would prohibit marketers from
renewing contracts and return customers to AGL, who would again
serve as the regulated supplier and transporter. Similar bills were
rejected in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Another proposal would require
selection of more than one regulated gas provider for low-income and
high-risk customers. (The proposals were rejected during the session.) |
|
04/02 |
The Natural
Gas Consumers' Relief Act (House Bill 1568, signed into law
4/25/02). Revises the Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act.
Gives PSC authority to issue emergency orders such as price
regulations if market conditions are no longer competitive (90% of
customers are served by 3 or fewer marketers). Includes a consumer
bill of rights, and provides for a regulated gas provider. Removes
legal restrictions that prohibited electric companies from selling
natural gas. |
|
04/99 |
Legislative
Amendment. HB 822. Amends the Natural Gas Competition and
Deregulation Act. Allows the PSC to set more general criteria for
determining that adequate market conditions exist in a particular
delivery area. Removes requirement that alternative suppliers
account for one-third of peak-day market before customers who have
not chosen an alternative provider can be randomly assigned a
service provider. |
|
04/97 |
The Natural
Gas Competition and Deregulation Act, O.C.G.A. § 46-4-150 et seq and Alternative Form of Regulation Act (O.C.G.A. § 46-2-23.1 et seq). The legislation provides guidelines for the unbundling of
Georgia's natural gas industry and directs the PSC to set rules
accordingly. An LDC may be released from the obligation to provide
merchant service when at least five marketers (unaffiliated with the
LDC) are operating within a service area and account for at least
one-third of the area's peak-day requirements (applies until
9/30/01). It gives the PSC authority to certify marketers and to
specify how to deal with issues of stranded costs. The legislation
establishes a sharing mechanism for profits from capacity release
during the transition and a method for assigning capacity to
marketers. It also directs the PSC to establish and administer a
universal service fund to help assure natural gas availability and
service. The legislation does not affect gas companies owned by
municipalities or other governmental entities. |
Regulatory Actions |
10/07 |
PSC Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Revising Marketer Certificate Rules. The PSC intends to amend marketer certification rules to require additional information from applicants, specify requirements for marketers purchasing or transferring customers from existing marketers, and spell out language to be used in continuous gas service agreements. The rules would also eliminate the requirement for marketers to file monthly reports with the PSC but would expand the information needed in quarterly financial reports. |
|
07/07 |
Fireside Natural Gas LLC Approved as Gas Marketer. The PSC certified Fireside Natural Gas as a marketer in AGL's service territory. The company was formed in 2007 by the owner of Energy Solutions, Inc., a wholesale industrial natural gas marketing company. |
|
06/07 |
SCANA
Retained as Regulated Provider. The PSC voted to renew
SCANA Energy's contract as the regulated provider in AGL's service area for
the 2 years from September 1, 2007, through August 31, 2009. The
regulated provider provides natural gas service to low-income
consumers and to customers who are unable to obtain natural gas
service from other marketers because of poor credit. SCANA has been
the regulated provider since the program was established in 2002. |
|
11/06 |
Commerce Energy Customers Transferred to GNG. The PSC approved the
transfer of Commerce Energy, Inc. retail natural gas customers to Georgia Natural Gas (GNG). Commerce currently serves approximately
6,500 retail natural gas customers in Georgia. GNG and Commerce must jointly send a notification letter to all affected customers. GNG must honor Commerce's fixed-rate contracts and Commerce's current charge for customers on a variable price plan. Customers can switch to another marketer without charge prior to the effective transfer date. |
|
02/06 |
Catalyst
Energy Approved as Gas Marketer. The PSC certified Catalyst
Energy LLC as a marketer in AGL's service territory. Catalyst is a
privately owned minority enterprise based in the Atlanta area. The
company must file monthly financial statements with the PSC and is
subject to a PSC-performance review in May 2006. Enrollment numbers
are to be limited to 3,000 until the company can demonstrate that it
has sufficient capital to take on additional customers. |
|
01/06 |
Gas South
LLC Approved as Gas Marketer. PSC approved Gas South's
application as a marketer in Atlanta Gas Light's (AGL) service territory and authorized
the transfer of the customers of Southern Company Gas to Gas South.
The company must honor all existing contracts between Southern
Company Gas and its customers. Gas South is a consumer-owned
electric utility |
|
10/05 |
Catalyst
Energy LLC Files Gas Marketer Application. The hearing is
scheduled for January 10, 2006. |
|
10/05 |
PSC
Approves Disbursement from Universal Service Fund. PSC
approved disbursement of $6 million from the Universal Service Fund
to the Department of Human Resources to supplement grants from the
federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). |
|
08/05 |
PSC Issues
Notice of Inquiry on Multiple Natural Gas Systems Within a Single
Certificated Area. PSC asked for comments on what factors
should be considered if multiple natural gas systems were allowed to
operate within a single service area. |
|
07/05 |
PSC Adopts
Affiliate Transaction Guidelines for AGL. |
|
07/05 |
Commerce
Energy Approved as Gas Marketer. PSC approved
Commerce Energy's application for a natural gas marketer certificate
of authority. It also approved the transfer of all customers and
assets of gas marketer ACN Energy to Commerce Energy. |
|
06/05 |
SCANA
Retained as Regulated Provider. PSC voted to renew
SCANA's contract as the regulated provider in AGL's service area for
the 2 years from September 1, 2005, through August 31, 2007. The
regulated provider provides natural gas service to low income
consumers and to customers who are unable to obtain natural gas
service from other marketers because of poor credit. SCANA has been
the regulated provider since the program was set up in 2002. |
|
01/05 |
Marketer
Late Fee Policy Changed. PSC voted to raise the minimum
balance that late fees can be assessed on past due accounts from $10
to $30. The late fee remains at $10 or 1.5 percent, whichever is
greater. |
|
12/04 |
Rulemaking
Proposed to Change Minimum Balance for Marketer Late Fee
Charge. PSC voted to initiate a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NOPR) that would limit marketer late fee charges to
accounts in arrears by $30 or more. Current rules allow marketers to
charge a $10 or 1.5 percent late fee (whichever is greater) on any
past due balance of more than $10. Comments are due by January 13,
2005. |
|
06/04 |
Vectren
Source Approved as Certified Gas Marketer. PSC approved the
application of Vectren Source as a new marketer in AGL's service
territory. |
|
12/03 |
Billing
Practices Section of Marketers Rule Amended. Amendment
prohibits marketers from assessing a late fee to customers with a
past due account of less than $10. |
|
09/03 |
Energy
America Fined for Slamming (unauthorized switching of
suppliers). PSC also stipulated that company must train its
employees and agents on PSC natural gas rules. For the next 2 years,
company must submit all proposed advertising to the PSC for review.
Company also prohibited from signing up new or former customers for
a 12-month period without prior PSC approval. |
|
07/03 |
Capacity
Assignment Plan for Atlanta Gas Light Approved. PSC
approved plan to assign AGL interstate capacity assets to marketers.
PSC will ask FERC for declaratory ruling regarding jurisdictional
issues if the PSC were to assign capacity assets permanently. |
|
07/03 |
Southern
Company Gas Cited for Improper Service Cutoffs. PSC
required Southern to credit $45,000 to affected customer accounts
and contribute $100,000 to the low income energy assistance program
(LIHEAP). PSC noted that Southern was the fourth marketer to come
before the commission this year for alleged violations of PSC
rules. |
|
07/03 |
PSC Issued
Policy Statement Against Automatic Renewals of Fixed-Rate Gas
Contracts. Statement issued in response to new tariff
filed by Shell Energy Services that would have allowed the company
to renew contracts automatically without affirmative consent by the
customer. |
|
06/03 |
ACN Energy
Fined for Improper Disconnection Notices. ACN sent
notices threatening disconnections in 7 days rather than the 15 days
required in PSC rules. ACN must give credits and refunds totaling
$309,050 and must pay $17,108 to the state’s LIHEAP fund. |
|
05/03 |
PSC Set
Final Rules (15640-U) for Determining if Natural Gas Prices Are
Competitive. PSC must first determine that prices are
not constrained by market forces and are significantly higher than
they would be if constrained. If so, PSC can intervene and issue
price caps on an emergency basis and require AGL to resume selling
gas to customers. The rules are required under the Natural Gas
Consumer's Relief Act which was passed by the legislature in
2002. |
|
10/02 |
Walton
Energy, Subsidiary of Walton Electric Membership Corp, Approved as
Natural Gas Marketer. Walton is the first EMC
affiliate to be certified as a natural gas marketer. Company is a
consumer-owned utility with 99,000 customers in NE Georgia. |
|
10/02 |
Retail
Price Caps Considered. PSC issued NOPR that could
establish price caps if marketer prices do not track wholesale
prices. PSC is advocating conservative gas purchasing practices by
marketers and hedging. NOPR (Docket 15640-U) would create standards
for determining whether natural gas prices are constrained by market
forces. Workshop on proposed rules scheduled for November 2002 and
written comments due November 1. |
|
08/02 |
Rules to
Implement Provisions of Natural Gas Consumers' Relief
Act (2002). Sets service quality standards for Atlanta
Gas Light, natural gas marketers, and the regulated provider re
billing and collections, payment processing, meter reading accuracy,
customer switching, and service disconnections. minimum standards
for marketers' terms of service, requires service terms to be
approved by PSC, sets requirements for marketer disclosure
statements, gives consumers' 3 days to rescind new contract with
marketer, and specifies penalties to marketers for failing to comply
with terms of service rules. |
|
08/02 |
New Rules
on Natural Gas Marketers' Terms of Service to comply
with Natural Gas Consumers' Bill of Rights legislation (2002). Sets
minimum standards for marketers' terms of service, requires service
terms to be approved by PSC, sets requirements for marketer
disclosure statements, gives consumers' 3 days to rescind new
contract with marketer, and specifies penalties to marketers for
failing to comply with terms of service rules. |
|
07/02 |
Southern
Company Gas Approved as Certified Gas Marketer.
Company will acquire New Power's customers. New Power
had been the designated default provider if a marketer were unable
to meet its service obligation. |
|
06/02 |
NOPR on
Marketer Terms of Service. |
|
06/02 |
PSC Selects
SCANA as Regulated Provider. Natural Gas Consumers'
Relief Act (signed April 2001) required PSC to select regulated
provider by July 1, 2002. Company will serve low income customers
and "high risk" customers who are unable to receive service from a
marketer. PSC approved a lowest-cost pricing plan. and a special
rate for senior citizens. Service is expected to start Sept. 1,
2002. |
|
04/02 |
RFP for
Regulated Provider. PSC issued RFP for a regulated
provider and an interim pooler. The regulated provider will serve
for 2 years unless PSC decides to extend term for third year or
terminate service after 1 year. |
|
11/01 |
Independent
Audit Considered. |
|
10/01 |
Consumer
Protection Task Force. Governor invited PSC members
and other experts to serve on a task force to assess
deregulation. |
|
06/01 |
New Interim
Pooler Selected. New Power Company was designated as
sole interim pooler for the Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) market in a
1-year contract beginning July 1, 2001. If a marketer in AGL's
territory is unable to meet its obligation to residential or small
business customers, NewPower becomes the default provider until
another marketer is chosen by the customer. |
|
12/00 |
More
Uniform Billing Standards. PSC approved a new rule
(effective 1-25-01) that addresses service quality standards for
billing and consumers' rights and remedies for untimely bills. Goal
is to make it easier for consumers to compare marketer price
offers. |
|
08/00 |
New Interim
Poolers Selected. PSC approved Scana Energy Co. and
Georgia Natural Gas Services Co. as interim poolers from July 1,
2000, through June 30, 2001. Selection based on assessment of
marketers' overall rates, terms, and conditions most favorable to
consumers. Applications will be considered each year. |
|
07/00 |
Unauthorized Switching and Recruiting Complaints
Resolved. Energy America agreed to establish a
$75,000 fund to assist low income customers, a $25,000 payment to
the PSC to cover expenses, implement a third-party verification
system, and comply with FTC door-to-door solicitation rules. |
|
06/00 |
Marketer
Rules Amended (effective June 2000). Requires
marketers to file pricing information with the PSC and to disclose
relevant pricing information when making offers to customers.
Include additional standards for certification and additional
grounds for revoking or suspending certificates. |
|
05/00 |
AGL
Customer Refund. In December 1999, PSC determined that AGL
had over-collected in its Purchased Gas Cost Adjustments for 1999.
Money was placed in interest-bearing escrow account and then
refunded to customers in May 2000. |
|
02/00 |
Anti-Slamming Rules Approved
(see 6/99). |
|
11/99 |
Interim
Pooler. Shell Energy Services was selected to serve
as the interim pooler. The PSC had asked for applications from
marketers by 11/3/99 to serve as interim suppliers if a marketer
should go out of business. |
|
06/99 |
Anti-Slamming Provisions. The PSC
proposed rules to protect gas consumers from unauthorized switching
of suppliers ("slamming") or from being charged for unauthorized
services ("cramming"). Offenders can be fined up to $15,000 and
could lose certification. Marketers are to be required to keep
documentation for 1 year that would verify a customer's request to
switch. |
|
05/99 |
Competitive
Market Determination. The PSC determined that market
conditions in the Atlanta Gas Light service area are sufficiently
competitive to deregulate sales service in the area, as 33 percent
have chosen alternative suppliers. AGL customers will have to select
a marketer by August 11, 1999, or the PSC will randomly assign them
to one, based on the marketer's market share at that time. AGL will
continue to sell gas until October 1, 1999, after which it will
provide solely distribution services. |
|
01/99 |
AGL
Customer Refund (Docket 10270-U). The PSC approved a
settlement between Atlanta Gas Light, the Consumers Utility Counsel,
and the PSC staff that revised the utility's rates and required a
$14.5 million refund to its customers. Rates will be based solely on
the amount of gas actually consumed rather than including any
charges for interstate pipeline capacity. |
|
11/98 |
Customer
Assignment. Notice of Proposed Rules (NOPR)
Concerning Random Customer Assignment, Docket 8053. New Rule
(515-7-4). The PSC will randomly assign unassigned customers to
marketers based on the total market share of the marketers on the
100th day following determination that adequate competitive market
conditions exist for the delivery group. |
|
10/98 |
Marketer
Certification. The PSC issued certificates to 19 gas
marketers, allowing them to provide natural gas service to retail
customers in the AGL delivery area. |
|
09/98 |
TRelationship Between AGL and
Marketers. Partial Order on Motions to Reconsider Re
AGL Filing of Election and Application for New Rates, Docket 8390-U.
Requires that AGL, at its own expense, provide additional
information to certified marketers, such as customers' names,
service and billing addresses, SIC code(commercial customers) design
day requirements, 12-month consumption data, billing cycle, and
meter type. Increases the monthly discount a marketer receives for
service bought on AGL on behalf of others. Directs AGL to unbundle
its storage and peaking services. If a marketer uses third-party
no-notice storage or peaking service, AGL cannot impose balancing
charges. Marketers must receive PSC permission to own or install a
meter. |
|
06/98 |
Restructuring Rules. PSC issued
rules to implement the Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act
and set the rates that AGL can charge during the transition period
to deregulation. Marketers must apply for certification by July 16
to be eligible to sell gas in fall 1998. Customer choice in the AGL
service area begins November 1, 1998, and customers will be allowed
to change gas providers once during a year without incurring a
switching fee. Marketers cannot receive customer information unless
the customer has given authorization. Other rules pertain to
ancillary services, daily balancing, and the requirement that AGL
has an electronic bulletin board operating by November 1,
1998. |
|
06/98 |
Service
Disconnection. NOPR Relating to Residential Gas
Service Disconnection, Docket 9205-U. Amends rules by creating two
separate rules to address the needs of the gas and electric
industries, since the Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act
does not affect electric utilities. |
|
02/98 |
Universal
Service Provisions. NOPR Relating to Universal
Service Fund, Docket 7604-U. Sets requirements for establishing and
administering a universal service fund to help assure natural gas
availability and service and to expand necessary facilities. |
|
12/97 |
Marketer
Certification. Rule Concerning Marketers' Certificates
of Authority, Docket 8044-U. Marketer applications must include
company financial information and technical information that
demonstrate capability to provide reliable service. |
|
12/97 |
Random
Assignment. PSC issued proposed rules to implement the
Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act. The rules include
criteria for random assignment of customers to marketers once
competitive conditions are determined to exist within a delivery
area. |