COVINGTON, Ga. – The City of Covington will observe the national Public Natural Gas Week from October 4 to 10, 2015. This annual nationwide event is intended to build public awareness about the value of having a community-owned natural gas utility. During this week, residents will be educated on the environmental and cost benefits associated with natural gas.

There are approximately 1,000 public natural gas systems serving more than 5 million customers. These public natural gas utilities are not-for-profit retail distribution entities that are owned by and accountable to the citizens they serve. They include municipal gas distribution systems, public utility districts, county districts, and other public agencies that have natural gas distribution facilities.

The City’s natural gas utility is good for the community for many reasons including:

• Local Control: Having a public natural gas system gives a community local control over how gas is provided to homes and businesses. Decisions are made through citizen participation instead of being made in a distant city by people who do not understand local issues and who are primarily focused on profits instead of service.
• Competitive Costs: In order to offer fair and competitive rates, public natural gas systems operate as a not-for-profit entity. Public natural gas systems do not face pressure to pay dividends to stockholders.
• Economic Benefits: As a public natural gas system, we play a valuable role in helping communities broaden its tax base, and in turn improve the local economy and increase jobs. Public natural gas systems ensure that local dollars stay at home.
• Customer Service: As a not-for-profit entity, we focus on service, rather than profits. Public natural gas systems are an integral part of a community. We maintain a close relationship with our customers, and as a result, we are successful in meeting our customers’ needs.

As the cleanest burning fossil fuel, natural gas can help achieve energy security and build a more competitive economy.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of natural gas and how your public natural gas system works, please contact the City of Covington at 770.385.2000 or visit www.cityofcovington.org.