May 2 2007
Thousands of New York and New Jersey residents may be rubbing their eyes and checking their calendars to make sure it's not April 1 when they check their mail in the coming weeks. The reason is a postcard many will be receiving that promises them two months of natural gas for their homes at a decidedly unnatural price: $0.00.
The unusual offer comes from Intelligent Energy, one of the fastest-growing natural gas resellers in the U.S. And, according to President Darin Cook, it's absolutely true. "Many New York and New Jersey residents are still not aware that, thanks to deregulation, they have a choice for purchasing natural gas for their home," he said. "In order to get that message out, we had to come up with an offer that would open some eyes."
The free two-month offer, available only to residential customers, involves no headaches or commitments, according to Bill Kinneary, Vice President of Northeast Marketing & Sales for the company. "You don't leave your gas utility - they continue to read your meter and provide service," he explained.
At the end of the two-month trial period, the customer can, if they choose, remain with Intelligent Energy at their regular monthly deregulated rate, get price security by locking in a fixed rate, or return to purchasing gas from their utility with no penalty, Mr. Kinneary said.
The offer is valid to residential natural gas customers of all of the following New York and New Jersey utilities: Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Con Edison, Elizabethtown Gas, KeySpan Energy Delivery, National Fuel Gas, Nationalgrid, New Jersey Natural Gas, Orange & Rockland, Public Service Electric & Gas and South Jersey Gas.
While giving away free energy may not come across as a sound business strategy, it's right in line with the consumer-friendly approach that sets Intelligent Energy apart, Mr. Cook said. "We give our customers a real choice," he said. "The advantage of doing business with a company like us is that you have the option to lock in your natural gas price at a guaranteed fixed rate over a period of time, as permitted by the various state Public Utility Commissions. In the event that the price of natural gas goes up, your rate will be protected."
It's an opportunity that is appealing to more and more consumers. Intelligent Energy currently serves over 60,000 residential, commercial and government agency natural gas customers in New York and New Jersey, as well as in Georgia and Florida, where it does business as Infinite Energy.