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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHome heating
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Should the General Assembly approve a bill that would likely add a surcharge to gas bills to build a pipeline that may mean lower natural gas prices in the future? Atlanta Gas Light and House Republicans are pushing a bill to make it easier for AGL to get approval to build a new gas pipeline and charge customers for it. Supporters say the pipeline would mean more competition and more fuel down the road. Opponents say they’ve heard that before, such as when the state deregulated the natural gas industry in the late 1990s. So, should lawmakers approve the bill, which could lead to a monthly surcharge for customers, with hopes it will bring lower fuel rates in the future?
Comments
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By John
February 23, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this
When the deregulation of natural gas came about, the politicians all said that we would see lower gas prices. It was said that compettion would improve service and lower the prices. Now I am no expert, but I have never heard that you can lower prices by only introducing a middleman (the gas marketeers). Until there is more than one supplier of natural gas (Atlanta Gas Light) there will never be true compettion in the marketplace, thus the prices and services will never be what was touted to the Georgia Public.
By David
February 23, 2006 08:45 AM | Link to this
There is nothing that is going to lower gas prices. Besides on every gas bill, there is a charge for the gas whichich goes to the marketer and I pay about $40 a month that goes to Atlanta Gas Light. That $40 is supposed to be for maintanence and improvement. You can figure Atlanta Gas Light gets $40 from every gas customer in metro ATl and they are not even supplying a product. Now they want to add to that charge which will NEVER be removed or lowered. In the words of John Stossel GIVE ME A BREAK
By Van
February 23, 2006 10:02 AM | Link to this
Does the Gas Guy own the state legislature?
We are paying through the nose for gas and Atlanta Gas Light and Robbery wants more of our money. Go figure.
What do they use their profits for anyway?
By hgr
February 23, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this
No way,We need to Elect some new people to house.They wanted to be deregulated, let them do some thing for the money instead of just taking and giving nothing in return, we need to do away with welfare for companies like this one.
By It's cold in here
February 23, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this
I guess the rich politicians thinks the working class should just continue to give our money away. It will be a cold day in hell before I give the gas companies any more money. I would rather boil water and bathe twice a week before they continue to break me each month.
By voice of reason
February 23, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this
It’s cold in here,Surely you are not really so ignorant as to “thinks” that the “rich politicians” will not have to pay this too. It may not only be a cold day in hell, but also in your house should you choose to not pay what they bill you for.
By singlemom
February 23, 2006 02:19 PM | Link to this
Two words - SPACE HEATERS
My natural gas bill has yet to reach $100. I have a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, split foyer home, with cathedral ceilings in the living area and master bedroom. I have two space heaters, one in the basement/den and one in the living room. They do quite nice and keep the house warm. My thermostat gets turned down to 65 every night when we go to bed (we turn the space heaters off - duh). I turn it up to 68 in the mornings to take the chill off, then back down to 65 when we are away all day. With the spaceheater in my den, the temp gets to a nice 74, and we are comfortable in pants and tee shirts.
Also, we are using the microwave and toaster oven way more than the gas stove/oven.
By GOP=Corporate Profits
February 23, 2006 03:23 PM | Link to this
Show me how do you de-regulate an industry that has only one supplier? - AGL Impossible! that’s why it WAS regulated. What the crooked politicians (GOP spearheaded by Purdue) did was to allow more maketers (middlemen) to sell gas. These marketers still have to to buy their gas and pay a fee to AGL plus make a profit. Thus your bill has to increase at least 30%, not counting the racketeering going on since KATRINA. If you voted for the GOP don’t complain - They did it fot Cable (prices tripled), now Gas, and Electricity is under consideration. Next I guess it will be water/sewer. Remember the bigger contributions come from corporations.
By J.T.
February 24, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this
What’s the point debating it? It’s a done deal anyway. As a libertarian, I see the problem with the Republicans being that they believe that all businesses will play fairly and thus consumers will benefit down the road. Businesses aren’t operating that way and no one is forcing them to. The problem with the Democrats is that they want the government to reign in business and put them under government control. That won’t work because the government is poor at providing services. Anyone remember Katrina?
It’s going to happen. You’ve just got to decide what you’re going to do to deal with it.