The Peachtree City Council is expected to approve Peachtree Natural Gas as the preferred supplier for natural gas in the city, offering a negotiated low rate for the city's residences and businesses. The formal approval was expected at last night's meeting, after press time.

The agreement opens the rate to local customers, but is not a requirement for residents. Any of the 19 certified marketers selling gas as a result of deregulation may be chosen to supply an individual home or business.

Assistant City Manager Joe Morton said that Peachtree Natural Gas is "already one of the lower-cost providers" without the negotiated rate.

Residents may choose a fixed rate of 37.5 cents per therm for 12 months, or select a variable rate with a 10 percent discount on the Interstate Pipeline Charge. The city's calculations show that based on average January usage of 162 therms, fixed-rate customers would pay $82.60 plus tax, while variable-rate customers would pay about $77.94 plus tax. Both rates include Atlanta Gas Light's base fee, but the variable rate would be affected by other factors.

Morton advises that when comparing rates of providers, consumers make sure all applicable charges are quoted and that "there are no other handling fees or hidden charges that could be added to the bill."