LANSING, February 25.  The Michigan Public Service Commission today 
approved Michigan Gas Utilities' December 18, 2001 application for a voluntary 
customer choice program for its natural gas customers.   The Commission also 
approved the use of deferred accounting for the recovery of gas customer choice 
implementation costs related to operational and billing requirements of the 
program but found that rate recovery will be determined in MGU's next general 
rate case.

     Under MGU's program, beginning June 1, 2002, up to 14,000 residential and 
1,300 general service customers will be eligible to participate in the program.  
Effective June 1, 2003, up to 28,000 residential and 2,600 general service 
customers may participate, and effective June 1, 2004, the number of eligible 
customers increases to 56,000 residential and 5,200 general service customers.  
On June 1, 2005, all MGU customers may select an alternative natural gas supplier.

     MGU's program is voluntary for its natural gas customers.  Participating 
customers will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.  Today's order 
approves residential customer protections, solicitation requirements, supplier 
registration and code of conduct, and procedures for complaints between suppliers 
and the company.MGU, headquartered in Monroe, provides natural gas service to 
about 150,000 in Michigan. 


     The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Consumer and Industry 
Services.


Case No. U-13232 
February 25, 2002
(MPSC approves MGU's natural gas customer choice program)