Natural gas savings available for homes

Michigan Retailers Association is expanding its discounted natural gas program to include residences.

Owners and employees of member stores are now eligible to join the program, due to a change in policy at VESI, the natural gas supplier that partners with MRA for the program.

In addition, members who receive their natural gas from Port Huron-based SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company, a natural gas utility that serves 24 counties in Michigan, may also participate in the program, both for business and residential locations.

“We are pleased about this exciting opportunity to extend MRA’s services to the homes of owners and employees of member businesses,” said MRA President and Chief Operating Officer James P. Hallan. “After a bone-chilling Michigan February, savings on heating are a welcome benefit.”When the program started six months ago, it was restricted to the commercial locations of MRA members and to those whose natural gas utility is Consumers Energy or DTE/MichCon.

“Many members who called about the program inquired about using the program at their homes. Others were with SEMCO, a utility that was not participating at the time,” said MRA’s Kathy Wilson, who administers the signup process. “Now we can help all these members.”

For a no-obligation quote showing what you would have saved over the past year with MRA’s program, fax a copy of your utility bills (showing CCFs used) from the past year to Wilson at 517.372.1303. Please include your fax number or e-mail and indicate which member business you are employed by (business letterhead works well).

If you are a Consumers Energy customer, a recent bill shows a past 12-month history of your gas consumption and is all that is needed. If you are a DTE/MichCon customer, please fax copies of the back side of your bills (showing CCFs used) from February 2006 to December 2006.

Or you may e-mail Wilson at kawilson@retailers.com, listing which member business you are with, which utility you use (DTE/MichCon, Consumers Energy or SEMCO) and your gas consumption in CCFs for the months of February through December 2006. She will prepare a comparison showing your estimated savings on the MRA natural gas program.

Because gas prices fluctuate monthly and this program does not lock in a rate, no guarantee of future lower rates can be made.

However, in the past 12 months, DTE/MichCon customers using gas provided by VESI saved an average of 13 percent and Consumers Energy customers saved an average of 10 percent.