Energy Choice Leader Enters Virginia Market

DUBLIN, Ohio, Dec. 28, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Gas of Virginia natural gas customers have a new alternative to choose from when selecting their natural gas supplier. Columbia Retail Energy's fixed rate offer will appear in their mailboxes over the coming week. The offer will enable Columbia Gas of Virginia consumers to select a price option that will eliminate price volatility through their July 2011 billing cycle. Columbia Retail Energy is a brand offered by IGS Energy, one of the largest independent marketers of natural gas in the country. IGS Energy has received approval by the Virginia State Corporation Commission to offer residential natural gas supply services as part of Virginia's natural gas choice program.  

Virginia's natural gas choice program offers consumers alternatives to their local utility for purchasing natural gas supplies. Although gas supplies are still delivered by the local utility company, competitive suppliers can offer a variety of pricing and product options to enable customers to choose the plan that works best for them. Columbia Retail Energy will offer distinct, competitive alternatives to Virginia natural gas customers, including fixed rate plans that eliminate price volatility, variable rate products that move with the market price of natural gas, and a range of contract lengths.

"We want consumers to understand their energy usage and be able to make informed decisions on their natural gas provider," said IGS Energy Vice President of Choice Markets Larry Friedeman. "We believe that our depth of experience in the industry allows us to be a powerful resource for consumers and through Columbia Retail Energy, will offer a range of products to meet consumers' needs."

For more information, visit www.columbiaretailenergy.com.

About Columbia Retail Energy

Columbia Retail Energy is a brand name used to market natural gas supply services to retail customers. Columbia Retail Energy is not the utility and neither Columbia Retail Energy nor Interstate Gas Supply, Inc. ("IGS Energy") is an affiliate of NiSource Retail Services or the utility. The Columbia Retail Energy name and starburst design are used by Interstate Gas Supply Inc. under a license agreement with NiSource Retail Services. All Columbia Retail Energy services are provided by Interstate Gas Supply, Inc., which is an independent company not affiliated with Columbia Gas or NiSource Inc. For more information, visit www.columbiaretailenergy.com.

About IGS Energy

Founded in 1989, IGS Energy is one of the largest residential retail suppliers of natural gas in the United States.  The company serves more than 800,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in an eight state region across the Midwest and the Northeast. IGS Energy is known for its energy expertise and its simple, clear customer solutions. It believes that residential and business customers should be able to choose their energy providers. When customers have choices, market forces motivate competing suppliers to offer a wide variety of price and service offerings that appeal to all types of customers. IGS Energy is continuously seeking ways to deliver energy more efficiently and make life easier for its customers. It is committed to providing the best possible value. For more information, visit www.igsenergy.com.

SOURCE IGS Energy