Friday, October 29, 1999
Natural gas marketer goes into bankruptcy

By JOHN THOMPSON
Coweta Editor

Residents may have been shocked this week to learn that Coweta-Fayette EMC's natural gas marketer, Peachtree Natural Gas, went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

But EMC president Michael Whiteside said his company's 22,000 customers should not worry because the gas will continue flowing.

“Everyone should remember that Peachtree Natural Gas's filing is a reorganization,” he added.

Peachtree Natural Gas is currently in negotiations with a Texas-based utility company to purchase between 75 and 100 percent of the firm.

When the natural gas industry was deregulated late last year, Peachtree Natural Gas moved quickly to the forefront of the gas marketers as the choice of many municipalities and EMCs across the state.

The company grew from having 400 customers last year to 177,000 customers this year. Because of the rapid growth, Whiteside said, need for additional capital grew.

Once the reorganization plan is completed, Whiteside said he believes the company will still provide the same customer service that it currently does.

“We worked hard to identify a local gas supplier who upholds our same philosophy of customer service and reasonable costs. Peachtree Natural Gas quickly rose to surface as our first choice and became the choice for over 20,000 of our members,” he said.

Customers will not notice any difference in their service or billing while the reorganization takes place, said Whiteside.

“We're signing up new gas customers every day,” he said.


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