Tuesday, May 31, 2005 • Natural gas campaign begins in Susanville

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, May 31, 2005 edition of the Lassen County Times.

With hopes of bringing a little fun to its natural gas campaign the city of Susanville has a new motto — We’ve Got Gas.

The catchy phrase has people all over town making jokes about slogan and as a result word is getting out.

Interstate Gas Services, Inc. helped the city come up with the slogan and its new marketing campaign to get more natural gas users — the only way IGS owner Dan Bergmann said the natural gas enterprise fund can sustain itself and stop borrowing from the general fund.

The first step in the new marketing campaign is to get existing customers to sign up for the equal payment program. The goal of EPP is to help consumers have consistent monthly bills and let the city have a steady stream of income.

Simultaneously, city staff began contacting customers who have laterals but not meters and customers with low usage.

The city will also distribute the red graphic designed for the campaign; letters to potential customers and a fuel cost comparison sheet for residential and commercial customers. The fuel cost comparison sheet includes an estimated 40 cents per therm rate increase for natural gas prior to the 2005-2006 heating season.

This amount is based upon a 28 cents per therm rate increase recommended in the IGS March 23 report to the City Council for gas fund deficit relief and an additional 12 cents per therm increase based upon cost to purchase natural gas at the current market rate.

It also has a propane comparison calculator sheet available for propane customers to calculate if switching to natural gas will be cost effective.

EPP
The EPP is a program that evenly distributes annual water and natural gas costs into equal monthly payments.

It eliminates seasonal fluctuations in bills making it easy to have a consistent water and gas budget.

Customers with current accounts and who have accounts in good standing with 12 months of history, can sign up for the program.

The EPP payment is based on the annual estimated bill divided into 12 equal payments. Once a customer joins the plan, the payment will normally remain the same for the next 12 months. However, if gas or water consumption is dramatically altered, or if there is a change in the gas and water rates, the amount could vary and may be adjusted during the year.

There will be a settlement month every May. At the time, the actual natural gas and water usage is compared to the amount paid to date. If the actual bill exceeds payments then a balance will need to be paid. If a customer overpaid, the city will credit the account.