Legislation |
01/06 |
Pilot Transportation Service Approved for
Sebring Gas System. (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. |
|
4/02 |
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. |
|
4/99 |
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. |
|
4/97 |
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 |
02/06 |
Catalyst Energy Approved as Gas Marketer.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 AGL's 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
(AGL) 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. |
|
8/02 |
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. |
|
8/02 |
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. |
|
7/02 |
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. |
|
6/02 |
NOPR on Marketer Terms of
Service. |
|
6/02 |
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. |
|
4/02 |
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. |
|
6/01 |
New Interim Pooler
Selected. New Power Company was designated as sole interim
pooler for the Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) market in a one-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. |
|
8/00 |
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. |
|
7/00 |
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. |
|
6/00 |
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. |
|
5/00 |
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. |
|
2/00 |
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. |
|
6/99 |
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. |
|
5/99 |
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. |
|
1/99 |
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. |
|
9/98 |
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. |
|
6/98 |
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. |
|
6/98 |
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. |
|
2/98 |
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.. |