Fayette residents may be able to get the lowest possible rates for natural gas service by hitching their wagons to the county or their city service.

The purchasing committee, a county-wide group that looks for ways in which cities and the county can save money by combining their buying power, is soliciting bids from all 19 companies that offer gas service in hopes of getting the lowest possible price, and plans are to allow residents to use that rate for their individual service as well, said Lynn Raven, financial director for the city of Fayetteville and a member of the committee.

"We're going to allow the public to piggy-back off the price that we get," Raven told the City Council Monday.

Until recently, Atlanta Gas Light Company was the sole provider of natural gas in the metro Atlanta area, but under deregulation of the industry, other companies will provide retail service to individuals while Atlanta Gas will act as wholesaler for the region.

Local cities have worked through the Georgia Municipal Association to get a low rate, but Raven said the purchasing committee wants to look at bids from each company as well to see if a better rate can be had.