Roy Everingham (left), SCANA Energy's Augusta office manager, has had to work out of his home as construction continues on the company's local office in the Daniel Village shopping center.JEFF JANOWSKI/STAFF

SCANA Energy vying for area gas customers

Web posted November 13, 1998

By Damon Cline
Staff Writer

Georgia's most aggressive natural gas marketer is also the first to set up an office in Augusta.

Atlanta-based SCANA Energy plans to tap into the city's $26 million residential gas market by opening a sales and customer service office at Daniel Village shopping center.

``We're about the only one that's really taking a pure business look at it,'' said Roy Everingham, SCANA's Augusta regional manager.

SCANA, and the 18 other natural gas marketing companies approved to do business in Georgia's newly deregulated market, are vying for the 1.4 million customers previously served by monopoly provider Atlanta Gas Light Co.

Although SCANA has already signed up local customers for service, the 2,300-square-foot office officially opens Dec. 1.

``That's what we're telling people,'' Mr. Everingham said. ``It could be open sooner than that.''

The office will be joined by customer service kiosks in Kroger grocery stores on Wrightsboro Road and Washington Road in Evans, Mr. Everingham said.

SCANA Energy is a subsidiary of Columbia-based SCANA Corp., the holding company of South Carolina's monopoly utility, South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.

Industry watchers say SCANA has been the most aggressive marketer to emerge from a pack that includes Georgia Natural Gas Services (which is Atlanta Gas Light's marketing subsidiary), Shell Energy Services and Duke Energy Trading & Marketing.

SCANA's media and promotions blitz includes an offer of $50 in free gas to Atlanta Gas Light customers who switch service to SCANA.

In addition to Augusta, the company is opening offices in Athens, Brunswick, Macon, Rome, Savannah and Valdosta. Customers in each region would be able to sign up for service or pay bills in person, Mr. Everingham said.

Other gas companies are using statewide advertising campaigns or affiliations with local electric utilities to entice customers to sign up.

Atlanta-based Georgia Natural Gas Services, whose ``Gas Guy'' ad campaign is seen on television and full-page newspaper ads, has no immediate plans to open an Augusta office, according to spokeswoman Anne Eisenhower.

``We are already providing a high level of service from a centralized location,'' she said.

SCANA said it has signed up 20,000 customers statewide since deregulation started Nov. 1, but it doesn't know how many are local residents. State regulators estimate metro Augusta gas customers at 70,000 with average annual bills of $520.

Under deregulation, Atlanta Gas Light would stop retailing gas and become a distribution company for individual gas marketers.

Consumers still buying gas from Atlanta Gas Light have 100 days to choose a marketing company or be randomly assigned one once the Georgia Public Service Commission declares effective competition.

Gas marketing companies will either handle their own billing and meter reading or contract with Atlanta Gas Light for those services at rates set by the Public Service Commission.

Georgia is the first state in the country to deregulate its residential natural gas market. Consumers with questions on gas deregulation may call the Public Service Commission at (800) 282-5813.

Damon Cline covers business issues for The Augusta Chronicle. He can be reached at (706) 823-3486.