Current participants of the City of Bowling Green’s natural gas aggregation program will see an increase
in their bill from Volunteer Energy Services Inc. for natural gas consumed during the February usage
period, and the city is pursuing remedies to the situation, according to a Wednesday news release.
Volunteer Energy Services Inc. is the competitive retail gas supplier that provides the natural gas that
is delivered to the aggregation participants. Volunteer Energy has already begun to send out the March
bills, which include an additional charge of $0.91 per Mcf.
Volunteer Energy’s rationale for the increased charge is that, due to the extreme cold during the period
of Feb.5-Feb. 20, they were forced to purchase significant quantities of natural gas from the spot
market to meet increased customer demand and that the cost of those purchases was significantly higher
than normal.
Volunteer Energy has stated that this additional increase in rate would be for one month only.
As the natural gas program aggregator for customers in Bowling Green, the city does not agree that
Volunteer Energy has the ability to increase customers’ rates in this manner, the release stated.
After a preliminary review, the Bowling Green Utilities Department believes that this is a breach of its
contract and is reviewing options to take the necessary steps to protect program participants, including
obtaining refunds to those customers for all bills that have been paid.
Bowling Green is working with AMPO Inc., the city’s administrator of the natural gas aggregation program,
to take the appropriate actions in concert with the city. These actions will include pursuing remedies
to ensure that participants are made whole. In the meantime, customers should pay their bill to ensure
they do not incur late charges.
Questions may be directed to the utilities director’s office by calling 419-354-6246.