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In 1997 the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation that deregulated the natural gas industry in the state. With deregulation customers were allowed the opportunity to select their own natural gas company in the Atlanta area and across the state from among a variety of providers. Atlanta Gas Light, who previously sold and distributed natural gas, took on a new role of just distributing and storing natural gas. AGL is responsible for building and maintaining pipelines, storage, reading meters, and responding to leaks and emergencies but not the sale of natural gas.
Natural gas marketers now make up the majority of sales and service providers in Georgia. When choosing a company to provide natural gas service residential and commercial customers in Atlanta have much to consider. Deregulation has allowed companies to engage in market-based competition, allowing them to recruit and maintain customers based on price and service. Researching each natural gas company that provides service within your area of residence will help you determine the right company and right payment plan for your household.
Reputation is important in making your selection. With most areas served by a minimum of three natural gas companies, surveying your friends and family is a good way to find out if a company provides satisfactory service. Take time to call each company that provides natural gas in your area and record details of your experience. If you have a negative experience with a provider the first time you call then you will likely be unsatisfied with the service in the future.
The Georgia natural gas company you choose is the one that offers you the best price, best service and most flexible payment options. Your energy bill will reveal your per-therm rate. This shows how much the natural gas company charges you for the units you use. This rate can change depending on the company you use and a low per-therm rate is not always the best deal. Ask each company you contact about any additional customer service charges or other fees. Every natural gas company in Georgia will charge a base fee that covers pipeline, storage and meter-reading costs performed by Atlanta Gas Light.
A variety of payment plans are available based on the natural gas company you selected. Per-therm plans allow you to pay only for the therms you use and are adjusted according to the price of fuel. When fuel prices are low, you can save money by paying per therm and taking measures to reduce your natural gas use and efficiency, but when fuel prices go up, so does your bill. A fixed-rate plan assures that your therm rate will not fluctuate over the period of your contract. Generally speaking, the company will offer a lower per-therm rate the longer your contract. If the provider assesses fees for early cancellation be sure to include that in your decision process.
Families in the Atlanta area that qualify as low-income and adults over the age of 65 in any income bracket may be eligible for discounted rates. Ask about any promotions or discounts that your natural gas company offers to customers.
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