Suppliers Raise Concerns on Operational Issues at Columbia Gas of Pa.

Several Pennsylvania natural gas suppliers have raised concerns with various operational issues at Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, and intend to address the issues in Columbia's pending rate case (R-2010-2215623, [see 1/18]).

In a jointly filed prehearing memo, Shipley Energy Company, Dominion Retail, Inc., and Interstate Gas Supply. Inc. said that they will raise issues regarding the various forms of information that are provided by Columbia to suppliers, and the ways in which such information is provided.

"By way of example, Columbia is often unable to address questions regarding customer data -- claiming it does not store such information for more than one week," the suppliers noted.

The suppliers further stated that Columbia charges a fee to suppliers to correct errors in data regardless of the cause of the error.

Additionally, Columbia has "black-out dates" for enrollments, "that continue to be problematic," the suppliers said.

"Moreover, Columbia's transmission of data regarding enrollments and drops is inefficient and ineffective. In particular, there is inadequate verification of transactions, leading to customers simply disappearing without any explanation or notice," the suppliers said.

The suppliers will also address other means of enhancing natural gas market competitiveness, including the elimination of bundled competitive sales rates.