|
|
|
|
|
These Terms and Conditions with the Disclosure Statement outline the agreement between you and SCANA Energy Marketing, Inc. ("SCANA Energy" or “We”) for your natural gas service. This agreement is subject to the Natural Gas Consumers Relief Act and other laws and regulations of the Georgia Public Service Commission applicable to natural gas service.
Eligibility
Customers are qualified for Group 1 if they meet the definition of “low-income” as established by the Department of Human Resources.
How to Sign Up
Call 1-866-245-7742.
A credit check using a standard industry scoring methodology will be performed before new residential service is established.. Based on the results of the credit check, you may be assessed a deposit not to exceed $100 or have deposit requirements waived. The credit check may also be used to verify identity. Deposits will be waived for Senior Citizens who have been verified by the Georgia Department of Human Resources or meet the income requirements as defined by Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC).
If you are assessed a deposit, the deposit plus accrued interest, if applicable, will be refunded to your account within sixty (60) days if all bills have been paid in full and on time as indicated on your monthly bill for a period of six (6) consecutive months. You have the option to request a check for your applied deposit refund. If you change marketers or discontinue service, your deposit, less any outstanding balance with SCANA Energy, will be refunded within sixty (60) days. Any deposit held six months or longer will accrue applicable interest.
Right of Rescission
A consumer shall have a three-day (3-day) right of rescission following the receipt of this disclosure at the time of initiating service or when informed of a change in terms or conditions. You, the consumer, may cancel in writing or electronically by contacting the marketer. Said cancellation shall be timely if SCANA Energy is contacted by telephone or electronically by the third day following receipt of said materials or notice or a letter is mailed to SCANA Energy and postmarked by the third day following receipt of said materials or notice.
Connection Fees
When establishing new service at a premise that requires a meter to be set a connection fee of $50 will be assessed, of which $50 is an AGLC pass-through charge. Reestablishing service that has been disconnected for non-payment requires a connection fee of $50, of which $25 is an AGLC pass-through charge. Establishing new service at a premise requires a connection fee of $25, of which $25 is an AGLC pass-through charge. These charges do not apply to customers who switch to SCANA Energy at their current premise.
Bill Components
Your natural gas bill will be comprised of the following charges:
Atlanta Gas Light Company Pass-Through Charges
Customers will be billed all pass -through charges of the electing distribution company, Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) regardless of the number of days of service. AGLC’s pass- through charges consist of:
- Customer Charge: A fixed monthly fee for gas connection to your home or business.
- Ancillary Service: Covers the cost of meter reading.
- Dedicated Design Day Capacity (DDDC): A charge that recovers costs associated with delivering gas to your home or business.
- Peaking Service: Covers the fixed cost of operating company-owned above ground storage facilities. This ensures an adequate supply of gas on the coldest day of the year. This service is only charged to customers in the Atlanta, Macon and Valdosta delivery groups.
- Social Responsibility Fee: Covers the cost of funding the Senior Citizens Discount Program for low-income customers.
- Environmental Response Cost (ERC) Recovery Fee: Recovers expenses related to cleanup of former manufactured gas plant sites.
- Pipeline Replacement Program (PRP): Covers the cost of replacing 2,300 miles of bare steel and cast iron gas pipelines in Georgia.
- Franchise Recovery Fee (FRF): Recovers fees paid by Atlanta Gas Light Company to local governments for the use of public rights-of-way for its natural gas lines and other facilities.
Natural Gas Consumption Charges
The charges for natural gas consumption vary according to the various pricing plans. These charges do not include state and local taxes or charges imposed by the electing distribution company, AGLC. The consumption methodology for calculating natural gas consumption charges for each plan is as follows:
Variable Price Option
The therm price may vary monthly based on market conditions. The natural gas consumption charge will be calculated using the variable price in effect on the first day of the billing cycle multiplied by usage for the billing period. The price does not include state or local taxes or charges imposed by AGLC. SCANA Energy uses the terms “billing cycle” and “month” interchangeably. A billing cycle is approximately one month, but the actual number of days may vary with each billing cycle. You may receive an initial bill for less than a complete billing cycle or month.
Customers who are defined as Senior Citizens by AGLC or verified by the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will receive a ten ($.10) cents per therm discount on the variable rate.
Fixed Price Option
The therm price will not change for a specified period of time. The natural gas consumption charge will be calculated using the fixed price multiplied by usage for each billing period. The price does not include state or local taxes or charges imposed by AGLC. SCANA Energy uses the terms “billing cycle” and “month” interchangeably. A billing cycle is approximately one month, but the actual number of days may vary with each billing cycle. SCANA Energy uses billing cycles to determine the length of a fixed price option term. You may receive an initial bill for less than a complete billing cycle or month. If you select the fixed price option you will receive service at five ($.05) cents per therm below SCANA Energy’s fixed price offering that is filed with the Commission for its retail deregulated natural gas customers in Georgia. The term for fixed price option contracts will be twelve (12) billing cycles or the number of billing cycles left in the Regulated Provider term if less than twelve (12) billing cycles. A fixed price option will be offered throughout the term of the Regulated Provider. All Group 1 Senior Citizens, as defined by AGLC or verified by DHR, selecting the fixed price option, will be offered a ten ($.10) cents per therm discount off of SCANA Energy’s fixed price offering that is filed with the Commission for its retail deregulated natural gas customers in Georgia.
You will not be charged a cancellation fee if you are terminating service to relocate to another premise and not changing providers.
Prior to the expiration date of your fixed rate plan, or whenever we propose to change our terms of service in any type of agreement, you will receive written notification. We will explain your options in the advance notification, including your opportunity to choose another natural gas provider.
Customer Service Charge
You will be billed a fixed charge per month to cover administrative expenses. The customer service charges are $1.95 for Senior Citizens, as defined by AGLC or verified by DHR and $3.95 for Non-senior Citizens.
Taxes
You are responsible for all taxes, fees, levies, penalties, licenses or charges imposed by any government authority with respect to services rendered. The prices quoted do not include state and local taxes.
Billing and Collection
SCANA Energy will invoice you monthly. Payment is due to SCANA Energy by the payment due date. In the event payment is not received by the due date, a $10 or 1.5% late charge, whichever is greater, will be applied to unpaid balances of $30 or more.
We will not send estimated bills unless AGLC has not made the actual meter readings available. In such cases, estimated bills will not be sent for more than two (2) consecutive months.
The returned check charge is $25. If you have three (3) returned checks in twelve (12) months, personal checks will not be accepted, you will be required to pay your account by cash, cashier’s check or money order. After twelve (12) consecutive months, personal checks will again be accepted as payment.
If you have an unpaid balance from prior billing, it will be included on your bill with the current month’s usage. If you do not pay the arrearage by the due date on your bill, your service may be disconnected. You will receive two written notices. The first notice will be sent fifteen (15) days prior to disconnection containing all of the required information including notification of availability of one reasonable payment arrangement in writing unless you failed to honor a previous payment arrangement. The second notice which is the Final Notice will be sent by mail to your last known mailing address five (5) days prior to disconnection and will constitute sufficient good faith effort to contact you under this agreement. Service will not be disconnected for non-payment of a bill that was not sent in a timely manner. You will remain liable for all natural gas charges until service has been disconnected.
We will continue to seek collection of any outstanding debt on final billed accounts. The account may be sent to a third-party collection agency and/or an attorney for collection purposes and reported to a credit bureau, which remains on your credit history in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We retain the right to seek additional costs associated with collecting the debt.
If you have a bill dispute, SCANA Energy has thirty (30) days from the date the error is reported or acknowledged by SCANA Energy to correct the billing error or to show proof of why the bill is correct. During the period of time the bill is in dispute, we will neither impose a late charge or penalty on the disputed amount nor initiate an action to disconnect your service or collect on the past due balance, provided the disputed amount constitutes the total amount of the past due balance. Any undisputed amount is due by the due date. Failure to pay the undisputed amount may result in late charges or service disconnection. In the event the billing error results in an overpayment, a credit will be applied to your account. You will have at least ninety (90) days from the date a correct bill is rendered to pay the corrected amount. No late charges or interest will be charged on the corrected amount during the ninety (90) day period.
SCANA Energy reserves the right to include in any subsequent bill, adjustments related to previous billing errors, meter read errors, miscalculation of taxes, or other errors or omissions.
Payment Options
Mail
SCANA Energy
P.O. Box 100157
Columbia, SC 29202-3157
Phone
Pay with credit card, Electronic Check, or ATM Debit card through BillMatrix. Bill Matrix receives a $3.50 fee for this service and is a third party vendor available toll-free by calling 1-800-450-9175.
In Person
Pay in person at an authorized payment location. There is currently a $1 cash transaction fee for payments made at these locations. For a list of payment locations call 1-877-467-2262 or visit www.scanaenergyregulated.com.
Online
Use checking or savings account to make secure one-time payments. There is no charge for this service.
Use credit or debit card to make secure one-time credit card payments. There is no charge for this service when you sign up for paperless billing. If the paperless option is not selected, the fee for this service is $3.50. Visit www.scanaenergyregulated.com for details.
LIHEAP and other energy assistance payments are accepted.
Payment Arrangements
Deferred Financial Agreement/Deferred Payment Plan
These payment arrangements are a means to assist a customer whose account has become past due by allowing the customer to pay the arrearages in monthly installments. Customer Relations Specialists review the customer’s payment history to determine eligibility for these plans.
Seasonal Deferred Payment Plan
The Seasonal Deferred Payment Plan is a payment arrangement designed to assist customers through a traditionally higher bill period of the year. The plan is available from November 15 until March 15.
Short Term Arrangement
The Short Term Arrangement is a payment extension that allows customers to pay the current bill after the due date but prior to the next billing. This arrangement is also used as a payment extension for final bills for customers that are no longer a SCANA Energy customer.
Payment Plan
Budget Billing
The Budget Billing Plan averages forecasted annual bills over a twelve (12) month period. Changes to the monthly Budget Billing amount may be made during the year if a rate change occurs or if the actual usage changes significantly. An annual adjustment is scheduled after twelve (12) monthly bills. At that time, the Budget Billing amount will be recalculated based on the actual usage during the prior year, and the payments and charges are reconciled. If the total amount of payments were not enough to cover the actual charges for the previous year, the difference will be due. You will be given the option to either pay the difference from the previous year in full, or pay the new Budget Billing amount which will include the amount brought forward from the previous year as part of the new monthly payment amount. If the payments were more than the actual charges, the customer’s account will be credited for the difference. Should a customer leave the plan during the year or fail to make the monthly Budget Billing Plan payment amounts, the plan is cancelled and the actual billed amounts become due.
Disconnection of Service
To request disconnection of service call 1-866-245-7742.
You are responsible for the charges associated with natural gas consumption until the disconnection has been made.
Rules governing our service to you do not allow disconnection of service for certain illnesses and during certain periods of time in which the temperature is below 32 degrees F. The details are as follows:
Disconnection during Illness
Residential service will not be discontinued for non-payment of a bill in the event of a serious illness which would be aggravated by having the gas service disconnected, provided you notify SCANA Energy of this condition prior to disconnection.
The notice must be in writing or orally with written notice to follow within ten (10) days. Within ten (10) days of the initial notice, you must provide a written statement from a physician, county board of health, hospital, or clinic identifying the illness, its expected duration and certifying that the illness would be aggravated by the disconnection of the service.
The disconnection will be postponed for either the length of the illness or one (1) month from the initial notice, whichever is shorter. The postponement may be renewed for one additional time within twelve (12) months.
If there is a dispute regarding the existence of a serious illness, the case may be referred to the Commission for a final determination.
Disconnection Seasonal Restrictions
Residential service will not be discontinued for an unpaid bill between November 15 and March 15 if:
- You agree in writing to pay the past due balance including late payment charges in equal installments for a maximum duration beginning with the first billing period after March 15 and concluding prior to the following October 15, unless you fail to comply with the agreement;
- In addition, you agree in writing to pay all bills by their due date for current service received after the agreement is signed unless you fail to comply with the agreement;
- The forecasted low temperature for a 48 hour period beginning at 8:00 am on the date of the proposed disconnection is below 32º F.
You may be disconnected for the non-payment of a bill as outlined in the Billing and Collection section above.
Reconnection of Service
If your service is disconnected for non-payment, you can reconnect your service after the balance in full, a reconnection fee of $50 and deposit, if applicable, have been paid. Partial payments may be accepted, but will not necessarily result in reconnection of service.
Group 2 customers who qualify for Group 1 may reconnect directly with Group 1 if all debts to both Group 1 and Group 2 have been paid, without reconnecting with Group 2 first.
Regulated Provider customers who qualify for LIHEAP will be reconnected, even if the assistance is not sufficient to pay the entire debt.
Contacts
If your questions or concerns are not resolved, you may contact the Georgia Public Service Commission and the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs.
SCANA Energy
PO Box 100157
Columbia, SC 29202-3157
1-877-467-2262
www.scanaenergyregulated.com
Georgia Public Service Commission
244 Washington Street
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-656-4501 (inside metro Atlanta)
1-800-282-5813 (outside metro Atlanta)
Fax: 404-656-2341
Email: gapsc@psc.state.ga.us
The Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs
2 Martin Luther King Dr SE
Suite 356
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-651-8600 (inside metro Atlanta)
1-800-869-123 (outside metro Atlanta)
The Department of Human Resources
Community Services Section Division of Family and Children Services
Two Peachtree Street, N.W. Suite 19-268
Atlanta, GA 30303-3180
404-463-3016
Fax: 404-657-4480
Public Inquiries: 1-800-869-1150
Disclosure Statement
The content in SCANA Energy’s Disclosure Statement is incorporated into these Terms and Conditions. The Terms and Conditions are also available online at www.scanaenergyregulated.com
Changes to Terms and Conditions
SCANA Energy reserves the right to amend this Agreement to reflect any material revision by it or the Georgia Public Service Commission to the AGLC tariff and/or the applicable rules and regulations or due to any other future legislation, orders, rules, regulation and judicial decisions.
Notice
Notice or billing delivered by mail to your last known mailing address will constitute adequate notice and billing under this agreement.
Limitation of Liability
SCANA Energy’s liability will be limited to direct damages actually incurred, which will not exceed the amount of the single largest monthly bill during the last twelve (12) months. SCANA Energy will not be liable for any indirect, special, consequential or punitive damages. There are no warranties, express or implied, in these Terms and Conditions, including the warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
SCANA Energy is not responsible for the delivery of gas to your premises. SCANA Energy is undertaking no obligations, responsibilities or liabilities upon and after delivery of the natural gas to AGLC at the delivery point. SCANA Energy is not responsible for your use of the natural gas. SCANA Energy exercises no independent control over AGLC's facilities necessary for delivery of the natural gas, and SCANA Energy undertakes no responsibility or liability for the operations of AGLC or for interruptions, termination or deterioration of its delivery or other services due to actions by AGLC or others. SCANA Energy will not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under any plan due to any act, omission or circumstances occasioned by, or in consequence of, any of the following matters whether affecting SCANA Energy, its suppliers, gatherers, transporters, storers, or distributors: acts of God, strikes, lockouts, or other industrial disturbances, acts of the public enemy, war, blockades, insurrections, riots, epidemics, landslides, lightning, earthquakes, fires, storms, floods, washouts, arrests, restraints of government and people, civil disturbances, explosions, breakage or accident to machinery or lines of pipe, exhaustion or depletion of SCANA Energy’s stocks of peak shaving fuel or storage, freezing of wells or lines of pipe, partial or complete curtailment of deliveries of as a result of force majeure as defined by SCANA Energy’s agreements with its gas suppliers, gatherers, transporters, storers, or distributors, inability to obtain rights-of-way or permits or materials, equipment or supplies, and any other causes whether of the kind herein enumerated or otherwise, not within the reasonable control of SCANA Energy.
Privacy Policy
During the operation of its business, SCANA Energy collects and uses information from its customers, including gas usage and other relevant information. SCANA Energy also obtains and uses information about customers from third parties, including, but not limited to, credit reporting agencies, to improve its business operation. SCANA Energy may disclose such information to its affiliates or contractors operating on its behalf to (1) develop or offer new or enhanced products and services or (2) administer and/or collect on customer accounts. SCANA Energy may disclose such information to third parties in connection with proposed business transactions, to credit agencies, or to duly authorized agencies investigating potential hazardous or illegal activity.
Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, including the laws applying to the goods and the applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted by the State of Georgia.
|
|
|
|
|
