MRA members save with natural gas plan

MRA’s Natural Gas Savings Program is off to a hot start, providing rates that are 8 to 40 percent lower to the 147 members who signed up in the first three months.

The program, available to MRA businesses that buy gas from MichCon or Consumers Energy, uses a business’s existing natural gas utility for billing, service and meter reading. It simply makes use of an alternate supplier to provide the gas at lower rates.

More than 440 businesses have inquired about the program and requested an estimate of their savings.

“Receiving a lower bill just when winter heating bills usually rise is valuable to our participating members,” said MRA’s James P. Hallan, president and chief operating officer.

MRA estimates members will save 8-12 percent with the program. But early adopters already have reported much higher savings, some as high as 40 percent.

Gilbert Rose, of The Chelsea Group in Wyandotte, saw his rates drop by 30 to 40 percent on his December and January bills compared to the previous year. He is now heating his two Wyandotte apparel stores, Willow Tree and Chelsea Menswear & Shoes, for an average rate of 70 to 80 cents per cubic foot.

“I had been using a savings plan with another discount provider last year, locking in at a rate that seemed good a year ago. But after switching to the MRA program, I was delighted to see how far the rates fell in December and January,” said Rose.

Natural gas rates fluctuate from month to month and year to year, so it’s impossible to estimate exactly how much a retailer’s savings will be. But Rose’s estimates of 30- to 40-percent savings are based not on total gas consumed—lower for everyone in this warmer-than-average winter—but on his actual rates.

The discounted rate is available only to commercial locations, not residential customers, according to the terms established by MRA’s partner, Volunteer Energy Services, Inc., and only to businesses that fall within the regions served by MichCon and Consumers Energy.

Signing up for the program is quick and easy, says MRA’s Kathy Wilson, who assists members with the process.

To obtain an estimate of your savings or for more information, contact Wilson at 800.366.3699. To speed up the process, have ready several heating bills from last year.

If you are already participating in the program, MRA encourages you to recommend it to other businesses or commercial spaces. Have them call MRA for more information.