PSC approves changes for natural gas service

ATLANTA - The state Public Service Commission approved new rules Tuesday that set standards for billing and collections, call center operations, complaint handling and payment processing. <br> <br> The changes were mandated by the Legislature in April following an overwhelming number of customer complaints about billing practices and customer service since a 1997 law deregulated the state&#39;s natural gas market. <br> <br> In June, the Public Service Commission selected Scana Energy as the state&#39;s regulated gas marketer to serve poor customers and those who have been denied gas service. <br> <br> As a regulated marketer, Scana will assume responsibility Sept. 1 for serving Georgians whose income is 150 percent or less of the federal poverty scale and for those whose poor credit histories prevents them from receiving gas service. <br> <br> Scana, part of Columbia, S.C.-based Scana Corp., is the state&#39;s second-largest marketer. <br> <br> Under the new safeguards, residential customers will have at least 20 days from the date the bill is mailed to pay before it is considered past due. <br> <br> Also, late fees cannot exceed $10 or 1.5 percent of the past due amount, whichever is greater.