February 2006

Lower Operating Costs

for Your Benefit

A Message from Allen Powers, Director of Walton EMC Natural Gas

I know many of you are concerned about the future of natural gas prices. How much higher will they get? Are they going to stabilize? And when will they get lower?

 

The truth is no one knows. As a Georgia natural gas marketer, Walton EMC Natural Gas has no control over the wholesale cost of natural gas.

 

The natural gas you use makes up more than half your Walton EMC Natural Gas bill. We purchase your natural gas at market prices set by the New York Mercantile Exchange. We've kept our operating costs and margins low since we've been in business.

We set our rates monthly based on the wholesale cost of natural gas. Damage to the oil rigs along the Gulf of Mexico following Hurricane Katrina caused steep increases to the trading price of oil and natural gas.

 

While we can't influence wholesale costs, we can control our operating costs. Since the beginning of our company, we've kept our operating costs low and avoided a big markup on our monthly rates. We thought you'd be interested in exactly how low.

 

The cost of the natural gas you use makes up for more than half your bill. This goes to energy companies and the owner of the oil and gas rigs.

 

Another large portion of your bill is the Atlanta Gas Light Company base charge, which we get directly from them. It varies monthly for every customer. The AGLC base charge includes pipeline, meter maintenance and meter reading.

 

Walton EMC Natural Gas's operating expenses are minimal. These include administration costs and general expenses of operating our business. When you lump together all natural gas expenses that make up your bill, a tiny fraction makes up Walton EMC Natural Gas's operating costs.

 

We're in a customer-driven business. That's why our main goals are to provide you the lowest prices possible for natural gas month after month along with outstanding customer service. When you call us, you'll talk to a live, local, friendly representative.

 

We're hoping for lower natural gas prices just as you are…and soon. As long as you're a Walton EMC Natural Gas customer, you're with a company you can trust.

 

We encourage you to use our online energy conservation tips. At waltonemcgas.com, you'll find information on programmable thermostats, changing your furnace's air filter and more. Log on to learn how you can use less gas during this heating season.

 

Read other articles from The Walton EMC Gasette:

	Energy Quiz Test your knowledge with these six basic energy-saving questions. Do you really know as much as you think you do?
	Digging Soon? Call First. The Utilities Protection Center advises consumers to "Call Before You Dig." Also, join other Georgians this month by planting a tree in celebration of Arbor Day.
	Natural Gas Sales Tax Temporarily Reduced You'll notice a tax break on your natural gas bill this month. This is one of four you'll receive as part of Governor Sonny Perdue's initiaties to cut the state sales tax for natural gas.
	Gas News The National Weather Service routinely gathers weather data for the Atlanta area. Reports for November and December of 2005 indicated colder temperatures requiring more heating for Georgia's consumers.
	Gas Up the Stove This month's recipe features Spinach Salad.

 

Recipes

Gas up the stove using recipes from Walton EMC Natural Gas customers. Our customers are encouraged to submit their favorite and unique recipes to us throughout the year. Each month, one recipe is published in The Walton EMC Gasette for other customers to enjoy. The customers who get their recipe in the newsletter also receive a $25 credit toward their next Walton EMC Natural Gas bill.

Browse recipes featured in The Walton EMC Gasette.