Q&A on the News
Q: Why is DeKalb County pushing customers to change from the gas company we have to Gas South? What is the county getting out of this? — Betty Jones, Avondale Estates
A: DeKalb County is one of several metro Atlanta governments that have partnered with Gas South as a way to generate revenue. In the arrangement, which is legal, DeKalb County receives a payment for every new residential and commercial Gas South customer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last year. Customers receive a discount of 2 cents per therm as long as they stay with Gas South. Kennesaw, which was the first city to partner with Gas South, made $100,000 in five years. Acworth, College Park, Fairburn, Norcross, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Union City and Woodstock are among the cities with Gas South deals, according to the company's website.
Q: How do drug companies keep other companies from developing and releasing generic variations to the public? — Eldredge Holland, Atlanta
A: Pharmaceutical companies have exclusive rights to drugs they develop until the expiration date of the patent for that product. After that, rival companies can develop and sell generic drugs, which are copies and generally 15 percent cheaper than brand-name drugs. The company that developed the brand-name drug might pay another company — called a reverse-payment — from producing a generic version, The New York Times reported, keeping the alternative off the market. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that the Federal Trade Commission can sue pharmaceutical companies for potential antitrust violations, which means they might find it tougher to keep generic drugs off shelves, the Times reported.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
