Did you know that in Georgia you have the power to choose your natural gas company?

Unlike all the other states, you can directly order service from your from your company of choice. There are nearly 10 different natural gas companies to choose from: Georgia Natural Gas, Gas South, Vectren Source and more. If I was not in the business to understand how valuable this is, I would probably brush it off, but natural gas deregulation is a very good thing for consumers.

This choice would have never been possible if it wasn't for the Senate Bill 215 (The Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act of 1997). The legislation's intent and purpose was to promote competition, and promote it did indeed. You may believe that competition is a bad thing, or you may read or come across news blurbs that are convincing many that deregulation is only driving prices up. In all reality competition forces companies to constrain prices to attract new business, which means lower natural gas rates and lower bills for you at the end of the month.

The green revolution is a great example of how competition helps energy companies to offer unique environmental incentives for customers to offset carbon emissions and help fund environmental projects. Competition promotes the availability of additional products and services, which gives you the ability to pick from fixed rates, variable rates and even green energy! More importantly, competition improves the quality of service

Natural gas companies in Georgia understand the value of having you as a customer and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep you around. Senate Bill 215 launched just a little over 10 years ago, yet many Georgians aren't aware of the advantages of deregulation. It's so simple to to enjoy competitive pricing for your natural gas today, and enjoy the fruits of deregulation and a competitive natural gas market.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) is responsible for ensuring that consumer rights are protected from fraudulent business practices. Your natural gas bill of rights is clearly stated and explained by the PSC, so it is essential that you know what aspects of your natural gas service are protected.

The Natural Gas Consumers' Bill of Rights guarantees the right to:

• Reliable and high-quality customer service provided with your natural gas service


• Receive updated and accurate information regarding your service terms and rates in a clear, concise format that allows you to easily compare companies and services.


• Access to the latest benefits and services that help you maximize your savings and comfort.


• Set, fair standards for any payment or credit disputes


• Protection from fraudulent, anti-competitive and deceptive information and practices, preventing you from making an educated decision when it comes to switching or comparing natural gas companies


• Accurate and timely bills with options to receive electronically


• Protection of privacy


• Prices protected from unfair or illegal shifting


• Fair dispute settlement with either provider or third party

Recent reports from the Energy Information Administration shows that U.S. natural gas reserves have now reached over 211 trillion cubic feet, a three percent increase in 2006, and the highest level since 1976. Yipee!

With the recent depletion of oil reserves in the Gulf and Alaska, and the obvious strain on foreign oil imports driving prices up, it's refreshing to know that natural gas supply is consistently growing. Considering 21 percent of total energy consumed in the U.S. comes from natural gas, it's comforting to know that there is a cleaner, safer alternative to oil, coal and nuclear power in an often volatile energy industry.

So Georgians, enjoy the benefits of cleaner, more affordable energy with natural gas. With the lowest carbon emissions of any fossil fuel, a high standard of maintenance and safety, and a competitive, deregulated natural gas market, Georgia is a great place to order natural gas.

Ever wondered just how safe powering your home really is? Without spoiling all of the surprise, GasGeorgia has provided natural gas consumers with a few, essential reasons as to why exactly natural gas is a safe and secure way to power your home.

With the push for adopting wholesale alternative energy standards, the need for a fossil fuel resource that is cleaner, more efficient and reliable is greater than ever.

For more information on the benefits of natural gas, please see this press release.

Local Texas dairy farms are supplying Huckabay Ridge—the nation's largest manure-to-natural-gas plant— with truckloads of cow manure, as the facility aims to convert enough manure into methane and eventually natural gas, to power nearly 11,000 homes.

The process is relatively involved, taking the substance through a production process that uses 10 manure truckloads per day. The average dairy cow produces more than 15 gallons of manure per day. 900,000 gallon tanks digest the waste for weeks to generate methane, which is then sent through the purification process to be distributed through a gas pipeline.

California utility Pacific Gas and Electric is expected to begin purchasing natural gas from Huckabay Ridge next year, with more companies expected to follow suit as the agricultural industry looks for additional ways to produce natural fuel resources.