New Years BowlChoosing Your MarketerChoosing Your PlanGame Saving PlaysAbout Natural Gas

CHOOSING YOUR NATURAL GAS MARKETER

 

Introducing the Teams

A complete list of Georgia natural gas companies in the league
Picking Your Team
Customer Service Record
Pricing
Terms of Service
Your Team’s Role

 

Team Profiles
Detailed stats on each marketer

 

Switching Teams
You have the right to change teams. Here’s how.

 

Natural Gas Lineup
Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas
FireSide Natural Gas
Gas South
Georgia Natural Gas
Infinite Energy Inc.
MXenergy
SCANA Energy
Stream Energy
Walton EMC Natural Gas

 

PICKING YOUR TEAM
Once you've scouted the natural gas teams, it's time to get inside their helmets and really find out what makes each marketer tick. Coach has put together a checklist of drills and skills you can put them through to help you evaluate the talent.
Team Checklist
Customer Service Record
Pricing
Terms Of Service
Roles

 

CHOOSING YOUR NATURAL GAS MARKETER
Customer Service Record

Teamwork is key to winning. And a marketer's customer service is one of the most important aspects in deciding which natural gas supplier to choose. Here are a few things to consider when determining whether or not a marketer is a good fit for you:

 

Reputation
Ask friends and family to tell you about their experience with a specific natural gas supplier.

 

Call Center Performance
Call the customer service line at several times throughout the day and keep a record of how long you waited to speak to a representative. Ask them a question to see how adequately the representative can answer. Are they friendly and helpful?

 

Customer Service Hours
Be sure you select a natural gas marketer with call center hours that match your schedule.

 

Toll-Free Number/Website
A toll-free number and website make it easy to reach your marketer when you're on the road or if the marketer's local (within the state) business office is not in your local calling area.

 

Customer Dispute Resolution
Save yourself time and money down the road by finding out if the natural gas supplier has an established customer dispute policy.

Pricing – What Goes In To What You Pay
Your marketer bases your bill on a number of factors, and each marketer treats those factors differently. Understanding how each marketer breaks these factors down can open up an opportunity for you to score.

 

Your Plan
The natural gas pricing plan you choose is one of the key players in determining what you pay. Marketers offer a wide range of pricing plans. Your best play is to ask questions about the different plans to get a good read on what you might pay with a specific marketer.

 

Per-Therm Rate
A therm is a measure of the amount of natural gas you have used. The per-therm natural gas rate is the amount a marketer charges you for each therm. This rate can change from supplier to supplier and from plan to plan. Your current per-therm rate is on your bill. And you can compare the per-therm rate of all the plans marketers through the Public Service Commission’s website at http://psc.state.ga.us/gas/pricecard.asp

 

Customer Service Charge
The lowest per-therm rate doesn't always translate into the lowest natural gas bill – you've also got to factor in other charges like the Customer Service Charge. This is what the marketer charges you to maintain and service your account. Customer service charges vary from plan to plan and from marketer to marketer. Keep in mind, your credit rating plays a role in what the marketer charges you. Call the marketer you're considering to find out about their Customer Service Charge.

 

Your Usage
A great way to compare marketers' prices is to take one of your natural gas bills and give different marketers your usage in therms (it's on your bill) and your Dedicated Design Day Capacity (DDDC, also found on your bill). This information allows the marketer to specifically quote what their charges would be for a given month.

 

Promotions
Some marketers may run specific promotions or offers during the season. It's always a good idea to ask if there are any current specials or promotions.

Terms Of Service (the fine print)
If you had an agent in this game, you'd be told to read the fine print in the contract before you sign with a team. Each marketer has different terms of service that can affect your bill. Coach has come up with a list of questions for you to ask your marketer. The more you ask, the more you know and the more you save.

TERMS OF SERVICE
Contracts

Do you have to sign a contract? If so, what are the terms and length of the contract? What is the penalty for breaking the contract?

 

Billing And Payment
Find out what forms of payment a marketer accepts. Ask about late payment fees.

 

Deposits
Will you be charged a deposit or upfront costs? Can you pay them in installments? If you have good credit, you will typically pay a lower deposit or no deposit at all. The highest deposit you can be charged is $150.

 

Disconnect Fees
Most natural gas suppliers charge a fee for disconnecting, reconnecting and establishing service. These fees vary by marketer.

 

Cancellation Fee
A cancellation fee is normally charged if you break a fixed rate contract. This charge varies by marketer.

 

Switching Fees
What are the marketer's switching procedures and fees?
Depending on what part of the month you make a switch will determine when your switch will take place. If you switch before the 19th of the month, you will begin service with your new marketer the next month. If you switch after the 19th, you will begin service with your new marketer in 2 months.

 

Other Services
What consumer services do they offer in addition to natural gas sales?

 

Budget Payment Plan
Ask your natural gas supplier if they offer a budget payment or levelized payment plan.

YOUR TEAM’S ROLE
Role Of The Marketer And Atlanta Gas Light

Your marketer and Atlanta Gas Light are both committed to helping you win with natural gas. But each one plays a different position in the game. The rules of the game changed with deregulation. Atlanta Gas Light shifted from both selling and distributing natural gas to becoming the "pipes only" distribution company, building and maintaining the infrastructure that carries natural gas to your home or business. Marketers assumed the role of selling natural gas service directly to consumers. Marketers are your first contact for questions about your natural gas service or billing. Atlanta Gas Light, on the other hand, maintains the natural gas pipes and is available 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.

 

Natural Gas Marketer
Sells natural gas directly to you, providing all facets of customer service
• Coordinates start-ups and shut-downs
• Provides monthly natural gas bill
• Provides pricing options
• Provides customer service

 

Atlanta Gas Light
Builds and maintains infrastructure and responds to emergencies 24 hours a day
• Maintains pipes
• Responds to leaks
• Reads meter

Team Profiles
As you prepare to negotiate with each of the teams, it's important to perform a thorough background check. Check out their bios for more detailed information. The more research you do now, the better chance you'll find a team that you'll want to play with for the long run.

Natural Gas Marketers
Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas
FireSide Natural Gas
Gas South
Georgia Natural Gas
Infinite Energy Inc.
MXenergy
SCANA Energy
Stream Energy
Walton EMC Natural Gas

 

Company Name: Coweta Fayette EMC Natural Gas
Telephone: Local: 770-502-0226, Toll-Free: 1-877-746-4362
Email: customerservice@utility.org
Company Info: Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas is an affiliate of Coweta-Fayette EMC, a consumer-owned electric cooperative, serving 70,000 customers in 8 North Georgia counties for over 58 years.
Available Plans: Fixed, Variable, Senior Discounts

Company Name: FireSide Natural Gas
Telephone: 678-872-0250, 1-866-517-0250
Email: info@firesidenaturalgas.com
Company Info: FireSide Natural Gas was founded in 2007, born out of the success of Energy Solutions, Inc. a provider of natural gas to some of the state's largest consumers. FireSide's competitive pricing, simple rate plans and excellent customer service make selecting a natural gas provider a "no brainer."
Available Plans: Fixed, Variable, Senior Discounts

Company Name: Gas South, LLC
Telephone: 877-472-4932
Email: customerservice@naturalgasmarketer.com
Company Info: A natural gas company that invites you to Get Comfortable? That's what Gas South is all about. You see, any number of companies can provide you with heat—our goal is to provide you with personal warmth, comfort and peace of mind as well. The kind that comes from outstanding customer service, great rates, clear pricing, and the tools and guidance you need to manage your natural gas service. Right now, approximately 200,000 customers throughout Georgia are getting comfortable with Gas South. We hope you will be, too.
Available Plans: Fixed, Variable, Senior Discounts, Grand Plan

Company Name: Georgia Natural Gas
Telephone: 770-850-6200 (inside metro Atlanta) or toll-free 1-877-850-6200
E-mail: customerservice@onlygng.com
Company Info: Georgia Natural Gas is the state's leading natural gas provider, serving residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout Georgia. With Georgia Natural Gas, consumers get leading customer service, exclusive partner offers and competitive fixed and variable price plans. We have the expertise to help consumers make the right price plan choice for their needs. Our payment options and budget billing provide the security consumers want.
Available plans: 6-month and 12-month, fixed price plans. Variable plans that offer flexibility. Senior citizen discount.

Company Name: Infinite Energy, Inc.
Telephone: 877-473-4684 (Toll-Free)
Email: customerservice@infiniteenergy.com
Company Info: Infinite Energy has sold natural gas in Georgia since the start of deregulation in 1998. Infinite Energy offers consumers a broad range of fixed rates, ranging from 3 months to 36 months, and a month-to-month variable rate. No other natural gas marketer in Georgia offers the pricing flexibility or long-term security of Infinite Energy. Infinite also sells natural gas to commercial customers in Florida, and to both residential and commercial customers in New York, and New Jersey. We employ over 300 people and remain one of the largest privately held businesses in Florida. Unencumbered by affiliations with a large parent company, Infinite Energy has grown from a small business success story to a solid company with over $600 million in annual revenue.
Available Plans: Fixed rates from 3 months to 36 months. Variable rate is month-to-month.

Company Name:MXenergy
Telephone: 877-677-4355
Email: customercarega@mxenergy.com
Company Info: MXenergy is one of the largest natural gas and electricity suppliers in the country, serving nearly half a million customers in Georgia, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Massachusetts, Texas and more.
Available Plans: From the price protection of a fixed rate plan to the flexibility of a variable rate, MXenergy offers a variety of plans to fit the needs of residential and small commercial customers. MXenergy also provides senior discounts, earth-friendly programs and other innovative plans and programs.

Company Name: SCANA Energy
Telephone: 1-877-GO SCANA (1-877-467-2262)
Email: (see website for email options in the Contact Us section)
Company Info: SCANA Energy is one of the largest certified natural gas marketers in Georgia. We have been serving large industrial customers in Georgia since 1987 and began serving residential and commercial customers in 1997. Today, we serve more than 475,000 households and businesses across Georgia. Over the years, we have built our reputation on integrity and an unwavering commitment to understanding and serving the wants and needs of our customers. These fundamental values ensure we provide competitive prices, flexible payment options, customized rate plans and friendly, reliable customer service.
Available Plans: Fixed, Variable, Senior and Budget Billing

Company Name: Stream Energy
Telephone: 866-543-4642
E-mail: (see website for email options in the Contact Us section)
Company Info: Stream Energy is committed to being the industry leader in customer loyalty built upon excellent customer service, competitive rates and innovative products. But our true point of difference is the priority we place on our relationships with our customers and business partners. Rather than employing a "one-size-fits-all" mentality or viewing our customers simply as "rate payers," our team of industry experts works to understand your unique requirements and then designs and delivers creative solutions to exceed your expectations.
Available Plans: Fixed, Variable

Company Name: Walton EMC Natural Gas
Telephone: 770-267-2505, 866-936-2427 (toll-free)
Email: csr@waltonemcnaturalgas.com.com
Company Info: Walton EMC Natural Gas is a local company serving gas customers throughout Georgia. Owned by a non-profit cooperative, our mission is to provide very competitive prices with superior in-state customer service.
Available Plans: Fixed, Variable

 

CHOOSING YOUR MARKETER
Switching Teams

Remember you're a free agent in this game. If you find natural gas service that better meets your goals, be it a lower rate or better customer service, you can switch teams mid-season. And you can switch marketers as often as you wish, but you are only entitled to one free switch during a 12-month period. After the first switch, there is a $7.50 switch fee assessed for each change in marketer that occurs during that 12-month period.

 

To switch marketers, just call your new marketer and set up an account. They will be responsible for completing your marketer switch order.

 

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