Fayette residents who buy from Peachtree City's and Fayetteville's preferred natural gas provider will have to find a new provider, at a new rate.

Shell Oil Co. is in the process of purchasing Peachtree Natural Gas. This transaction is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.

The change in ownership will terminate Peachtree City's preferred provider contract with PNG.

Fayetteville officials said the city is studying the change to see how it will affect local residents.

Peachtree City residents currently using PNG may select another provider prior to change in ownership or they will be automatically reassigned to Shell.

After one month, reassigned PNG customers will have the option of remaining with Shell or choosing another natural gas provider.

Residents will experience no interruption in service during the change in ownership, said Peachtree City assistant city manager Joe Morton.

The preferred provider contract Peachtree City negotiated with Peachtree Natural Gas and Coweta Fayette EMC has been in effect for almost a full year.

According to published rate averages, Peachtree City citizens who signed up with PNG have had among the lowest rates during that time.

“In the year since natural gas has been deregulated, the various providers have also established a rate history that will give our residents a better information base in selecting their new provider,” Morton said.

“The preferred provider contract accomplished the mayor and council's goal of saving residents money and eliminating some of the initial confusion of deregulation and the provider selection process,” said Morton.

Due to the limited time frame for this changeover and to the current availability of more information on natural gas providers, the city of Peachtree City will not solicit proposals for another preferred provider contract.

Fayette County did not issue a contract for a preferred provider, but the city of Fayetteville did have Peachtree Natural gas as its provider. City officials are still weighing their options.