The University of Wyoming is offering employees and retirees an opportunity to choose between two special negotiated natural gas rates under the Choice Gas program. Employees who have not selected a supplier and rate have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, to sign up for the special UW rate. A spreadsheet to compare last year's UW rate with the pass through rate can be found on the Web here.
UW negotiated the special natural gas rates with Asgard Energy, LLC, one of five suppliers selling gas under the Choice Gas Program. The residential rate is being offered to employees in Source Gas' Casper Division, which includes Laramie and Casper, but not Cheyenne and Torrington.
The first option is a maximum fixed rate for the entire year for 50 cents per therm. If the Colorado Interstate Gas (CIG) index price plus the $0.062/therm adder is less than $0.50/therm you will be charged the lesser amount. For example, the CIG index cost for April 2010 is $0.36/therm which would put the bill at $0.422/therm. The second option is based on gas prices on the first of each month, as listed on the CIG Index, with a $0.062/therm adder, says Frosty Selmer, deputy director at the Physical Plant in charge of utilities.
This is bit different from last year, where there was only one fixed rate. This price does not include the distribution charges added to all options, usually 22-25 cents per therm. Employees should keep in mind that the UW options might not be the most economical.
Selmer offers these instructions for UW employees who want to sign up for one of the
negotiated rates. Using the Choice Gas Supplier Selection Form received in the mail,
check either:
-- Option #1: Asgard "Smart Fixed Rate," Maximum Fixed Price $.50/therm, or
-- Option #2: Asgard "Market Index Rate," CIG Index plus $0.062/therm.
Sign, date and deliver the ballot to the Physical Plant Service Desk by 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 27. UW will take care of the confirmation coding. The Physical Plant is located at the northwest corner of 15th and Lewis streets, the mailing address is 1000 E. University Avenue, Department 3227, Laramie, WY 82071. Ballots may be sent via fax (307) 766-4040. Ballots may also be sent by emailing a scanned ballot, in .pdf format, to SvsDesk@uwyo.edu.
More information is available from Asgard Energy, at toll free 1-866-5179 or Selmer at fselmer@uwyo.edu.
