/PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta Gas Light received approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) today on a new program designed to encourage economic growth and spur the addition of new customers under the Georgia Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement Program or (STRIDE). The new program will not increase monthly rates to consumers, but instead will be collected through the existing STRIDE surcharge for an additional three years.
The program, known as the Integrated Customer Growth Program or i-CGP, will allow Atlanta Gas Light to invest up to $45 million to extend its pipeline facilities to serve customers without pipeline access. The new program will also allow Atlanta Gas Light to install pipelines to create new economic development corridors in order to help spur growth.
The new line extension program under i-CGP is available for both residential and commercial customers. Currently many customers that want natural gas service and who are not located near an existing pipeline are required to make a cash payment to have service established. This has been a significant disincentive, particularly under the current economic conditions. The i-CGP program will reduce or eliminate this requirement for many potential customers.
The new strategic corridor development program will allow Atlanta Gas Light to make major investments to extend its gas distribution facilities to areas where growth is forecasted, or to locations where existing development does not have access to natural gas. This will be a new resource that will allow Atlanta Gas Light to work with state and local economic development officials to attract new business, with the potential of bringing jobs to Georgia.
"The Georgia Public Service Commission has given Atlanta Gas Light a new regulatory framework to restore growth on our system and help keep the pressure to increase rates down," said Suzanne Sitherwood, president, Atlanta Gas Light. "It also allows us to be a partner to spur economic development in more communities throughout the state where natural gas service is not presently available."
To avoid an increase in monthly rates due to the program, i-CGP will extend the duration of the STRIDE program by three years.
Atlanta Gas Light received approval from the PSC for its STRIDE program in October. STRIDE will install new pipeline and liquefied natural gas facilities throughout metro Atlanta to improve system reliability and operational performance on peak demand days. The first three year construction program of $175.7 million is underway and should be completed by 2012.
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Showing posts with label economic development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economic development. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Georgia PSC Approves Investment Program for Atlanta Gas Light to Promote Job Growth and Cleaner Air
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) today unanimously approved a new economic development and environmental program developed by Atlanta Gas Light, a subsidiary of AGL Resources (NYSE:AGL) , to encourage smart new investment in Georgia. The new program, called "Georgia Sustainable Environmental Economic Development program," or Georgia SEED, is designed to attract and retain jobs, support projects to reduce carbon emissions and encourage new investment in Georgia.
"Georgia's economy is suffering like our national economy," said Suzanne Sitherwood, president, Atlanta Gas Light. "The best way to get our economy moving is to make investments that attract jobs or keep jobs here. Georgia SEED is a new tool in the state's economic development toolbox that allows Atlanta Gas Light to invest in Georgia's future at no risk to our customers."
Under the new program, Atlanta Gas Light will contract with existing business customers or new customers that may be considering expanding into Georgia. AGL shall have the option to invest its capital to help customers finance line extensions, new natural gas equipment and equipment installations.
"Smart investing can generate new business and improve the state's air quality at the same time," said Hank Linginfelter, executive vice president, AGL Resources. "Installing new equipment that improves a business's efficiency or allows it to comply with new carbon emission laws may allow the business to better control its energy costs. Georgia SEED could make the difference in whether a struggling business remains open."
AGL and the Georgia PSC will work together to determine how Georgia SEED, which is a five-year, experimental program, should be designed to best meet the needs of Georgia business. Although AGL has long participated in state and local economic development projects, Georgia SEED is a new approach that allows the utility to expand its ability to meet customer needs while collaborating with the Georgia PSC to promote jobs and smart environmental investments.
Georgia SEED offers three potential avenues for contracts: providing customers with the benefit of a new utility service extension to plant sites; offering financing for the purchase and installation of new higher-efficiency gas equipment, such as engines, boilers, fleet vehicles, refueling stations and gas-fired air conditioning equipment; and discounted utility rates to help lower overall energy costs.
Georgia SEED benefits are available to customers who can establish significant economic and environmental benefits for the state. Customers will have little or no up-front costs and can pay back the investment over the life of the project.
"We are committed to improving the business climate of the state while improving the state's environment," said Sitherwood. "Responsible growth can achieve both goals simultaneously."
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"Georgia's economy is suffering like our national economy," said Suzanne Sitherwood, president, Atlanta Gas Light. "The best way to get our economy moving is to make investments that attract jobs or keep jobs here. Georgia SEED is a new tool in the state's economic development toolbox that allows Atlanta Gas Light to invest in Georgia's future at no risk to our customers."
Under the new program, Atlanta Gas Light will contract with existing business customers or new customers that may be considering expanding into Georgia. AGL shall have the option to invest its capital to help customers finance line extensions, new natural gas equipment and equipment installations.
"Smart investing can generate new business and improve the state's air quality at the same time," said Hank Linginfelter, executive vice president, AGL Resources. "Installing new equipment that improves a business's efficiency or allows it to comply with new carbon emission laws may allow the business to better control its energy costs. Georgia SEED could make the difference in whether a struggling business remains open."
AGL and the Georgia PSC will work together to determine how Georgia SEED, which is a five-year, experimental program, should be designed to best meet the needs of Georgia business. Although AGL has long participated in state and local economic development projects, Georgia SEED is a new approach that allows the utility to expand its ability to meet customer needs while collaborating with the Georgia PSC to promote jobs and smart environmental investments.
Georgia SEED offers three potential avenues for contracts: providing customers with the benefit of a new utility service extension to plant sites; offering financing for the purchase and installation of new higher-efficiency gas equipment, such as engines, boilers, fleet vehicles, refueling stations and gas-fired air conditioning equipment; and discounted utility rates to help lower overall energy costs.
Georgia SEED benefits are available to customers who can establish significant economic and environmental benefits for the state. Customers will have little or no up-front costs and can pay back the investment over the life of the project.
"We are committed to improving the business climate of the state while improving the state's environment," said Sitherwood. "Responsible growth can achieve both goals simultaneously."
-----
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www.georgiafrontpage.com
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