1. Introduction to Consumers Energy
Module 2
11/30/15

2. Website Home Page: http://www.consumersenergy.com/
Consumers Energy is a natural gas and electricity provider in Michigan. At this time, Spark offers supply services for Consumers Energy natural gas customers only.

3. Overview of Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy is one of the nation's largest combination utilities, providing electric and natural gas service to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 6.8 million residents, in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties
Unlike most utilities that charge for gas by therm, Consumers Energy charges by cubic feet, or Mcf. There are 10 therms per Mcf; therefore the gas price is presented as tens of cents rather than in cents (i.e cents per therm versus $4.490 per Mcf)
Historical rates per Mcf are posted on the Consumers Energy website so customers can always view the utility’s current gas price
A typical Consumers Energy residential customer uses about 112 Mcf of natural gas each year; about 80% of that gas is used for heating

4. Residential Bill: Front Page Top Half
Account Number is not required

5. Residential Bill: Front Page Bottom Half
Consumers Residential
Gas Rate Schedule is required
Gas POD # is required
Gas Cost Recovery charges indicate how much the customer is paying for natural gas supply
The chart indicates gas Mcf usage

6. Residential Bill: Back Page, Service Rate Codes
An explanation of service rate codes appears on the back of the bill

7. Commercial Bill: Front Page Top Half
Account Number is not required

8. Commercial Bill: Front Page Bottom Half
Consumers Small Commercial
Gas Rate Schedule is required
Gas POD # is required
Gas Cost Recovery Charge indicates how much the customer is paying for natural gas supply
The chart indicates gas Mcf usage

9. Commercial Bill: Back Page, Service Rate Codes
An explanation of commercial service rate codes appears on the back of the bill

10. Website Explanation of Gas Charges

11. Website Explanation of Gas Charges (Continued)

12. Gas Cost Recovery Rates
Typically, there are three charges on a Consumers bill including the Gas Cost Recovery charge which covers the cost of the natural gas per Mcf or 10.2 therms
1 therm = .098 Mcf
10.2 therms = 1 Mcf
This chart depicts an 18-month review of Consumers Energy’s Gas cost including Consumers current month price per Mcf
For Current Gas Rates Visit:

13. Spark Energy Charges
Consumers Energy offers a “rate-ready” bill, which means that each month Spark Energy sends the customer’s specific rate and Consumers Energy calculates the charges and prints and sends the bill
Consumers Energy customers who take advantage of Budget Billing (called Budget Plan in Consumers) can continue to enjoy this billing program, however Spark Energy does not support Consumers Energy Auto Bill pay program
Do not enroll customers on government assistance programs
If a Commercial customer has tax exempt status, the customer must send Spark the appropriate tax exempt documents
Advise tax exempt customers to fax their tax exemption form to Spark Energy:

14. Alternative Energy Program: Energy Choice

15. Consumers Choice Rules about Switching Suppliers
Published rules about switching suppliers
Customers may switch suppliers once every 12 months of the program year (April – March) for free
Each additional switch, customers will pay $10, unless they are switching back to Consumers Energy
If they return to buy natural gas from Consumers Energy, they must continue buying from Consumers Energy for at least 12 months
If a customer said that they previously used an alternative energy provider and went back to Consumers Energy, find out how long it has been since they returned
We will not pursue sales unless the customer is within 30 days of his/her 12-month holding period; Consumers Energy will reject the order if the customer has not been back for a full year!

16. Coverage Area
Consumers Energy serves an area that includes 215 cities and villages. Among the principal cities served are Bay City, Flint, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Macomb, Midland, Royal Oak, Saginaw and Warren. More than one-half of the utility’s gas customers are in metro Detroit.
Detroit

17. Michigan Public Service Commission
Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) monitors the Consumers Energy market and offers many guidelines to approved suppliers in the territory
Customers with multiple accounts will need to enroll each account individually.

18. Questions?