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2.22.04
Comparing utilities: M.U.D. and Aquila
by Nancy Gaarder, Omaha World-Herald
Metropolitan Utilities District
- Ownership: Public utility, based in Omaha.
- Governance: Seven-person board elected by public.
- Service: Provides natural gas and water. Serves 194,465 natural gas
customers in Nebraska, primarily in Omaha. Other communities include northern
Bellevue, Springfield, Bennington, Fort Calhoun and Yutan.
- Rates: Set by M.U.D. Board.
- Miles of gas mains: 2,390.
- Financials: 2003 taxes paid on gas service (state and local sales and
payment to local communities in-lieu-of taxes) -- $21.million. 2003 operating
revenues on gas service -- $228 million.
- Customer service: Local phone number and local customer service office,
1723 Harney St.
- New customer charge: $18; $36 if gas needs to be reconnected.
- Fees: Relight pilot light, $50; inspect gas-fired appliance, $50; reconnect
gas after shut-off for nonpayment, $46; $58 if its's the same day.
- Cold-weather rule: Won't shut off gas if temperatures are forcasted
to drop below 20 degrees.
Aquila, Inc. (formerly Peoples Natural Gas)
- Ownership: Investor-owned, based in Kansas City, MO; state headquarters
in Lincoln, NE
- Governance: Eight-person board elected by shareholders. Global company
in process of selling off international and some domestic assets; soon
will become seven-state U.S. utility.
- Service: Provides natural gas and electricty. Servies 190,000 customers
in eastern Nebraska. Communities include Lincoln, southern Bellevue,, LaVista,
Papillion, Elkhorn, Columbus, Norfolk, Gretna.
- Rates: Set by Nebraska Public Service Commission.
- Miles of gas mains: In Nebraska, 3,150.
- Financials: 2002 taxes paid in Nebraska -- $12 million. 2002 operating
revenues/Nebraska -- $136 million.
- Customer service: No advertised local customer service office, but
assistance available at 501 W. Sixth St., Papillion, 24-hour-toll-free
assistance number.
- New customer charge: $26.
- Fees: Relight pilot light, $49.95; inspect gas-fired appliance, $49.95;
reconnect gas after shut-off for nonpayment, $30.
- Cold-weather rule: Won't shut off gas if temperatures are forcasted
to drop below 30 degrees. State regulators also require Aquila to give
customers an additional 30 days to pay from November to March.
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Aquila,
M.U.D. wage a meter war
Gas-price factors differ
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