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UTILITIES

Electricity & Gas

The Augusta area is served through a strong network of transmission lines, substations and commercial/industrial grade distribution lines. These facilities are constantly maintained and upgraded to insure the highest reliability possible. The local system is interconnected with Georgia's Integrated Transmission System, which gives it the capacity and stability to meet the needs of the area's industrial community.

Plant Vogtle, Georgia's newest nuclear baseload generating station, is located in Burke County, south of Augusta. Plant Vogtle has a generating capacity of 1,100 megawatts that helps strengthen the area's electrical system.

Augusta boasts some of the largest power users in the state which include:

• Augusta Newsprint Co. (Georgia Power's largest single meter account and user of electricity in the state)
• Olin Corporation
• International Paper Co.
• DSM Resins

In Georgia, companies locating outside of the municipal boundaries established in 1973 and having 900kw demand or higher have a choice of power supplier. Optional suppliers include (1) Georgia Power, which is a subsidiary of The Southern Company, (2) Oglethorpe Power Corporation, and (3) Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG). Electric power companies in Georgia work through an integrated transmission network. Rates in Georgia are 15% below the national average with interruptible and off-peak rates available.

NATURAL GAS
Georgia offers very competitive natural gas prices, in part because it is the first state in the nation to deregulate the residential and commercial natural gas market. In 1997, the Georgia General Assembly passed into law the Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act. Under the new law, Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) filed a plan with the Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) to bring its customers in Georgia a choice of natural gas suppliers. Atlanta Gas Light Company will continue to operate its pipeline systems. But its former customers, both residential and commercial, are able to buy gas from a variety of providers. Other marketers will arrange for the sale and distribution of gas to their own customers, using the existing AGL pipelines to deliver the gas. Marketers will be allowed to set their own prices. According to the GPSC, competition should eventually bring most customers more value and even more reliable and efficient service.

Natural gas is available in industrial quantities on both a firm and an interruptible basis, depending upon the peak daily usage and load profile of the customer.

Augusta boasts some of the largest gas users in the state which include:

• International Paper
• PCS Nitrogen
• DSM Chemicals

There are 7 natural gas marketers:

• Scana Energy Marketing Inc.
• Shell Energy Services Co.
• ACN Energy
• Infinite Energy Inc.
• Energy America
• The New Power Company
• Georgia Natural Gas Services, Inc.