Interstate Gas Supply, RESA Reach Settlement on Trade Name Issue in Pennsylvania

Interstate Gas Supply said it has reached a settlement in principle with the Retail Energy Supply Association regarding IGS Energy's use of the trade name Columbia Retail Energy in Pennsylvania (10/18).

The settlement provides that IGS Energy will use certain disclosures on all marketing, advertising, billing, and customer education materials when using the Columbia Retail Energy trade name.

Among other things, the disclosures include, directly under the Columbia Retail Energy logo, a statement that service is "provided by IGS Energy." Additionally, the disclosures also state, at the bottom of the relevant material, that the Columbia Retail Energy logo design is a trademark of NiSource Corporate Services Company and is used under license by Interstate Gas Supply. The disclosure further states that Columbia Retail Energy is not the utility, and that Interstate Gas Supply is not an affiliate of NiSource Corporate Services or Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania.

Additionally, the stipulation provides that IGS and RESA will jointly propose to the Commission interim guidelines and, through a proposed rulemaking proceeding, formal regulations applicable to any natural gas supplier's use of a non-affiliated utility's logo on marketing materials.

RESA has agreed to withdraw its protest to IGS Energy's filing to add the trade name Columbia Retail Energy as a condition of the settlement.

IGS said it is also in discussion with the Office of Consumer Advocate regarding OCA's intervention in IGS's licensing docket concerning use of the Columbia Retail Energy trade name.