Natural Gas Customer Choice permits you to shop for gas for your home or business from a diverse market of gas suppliers. You can select a gas supplier or do nothing and continue to get your gas from your local gas utility under existing regulated rates

If you are a natural gas residential or business customer of Michigan Gas Utilities - MGU (formerly Aquila), Consumers Energy Company, Michigan Consolidated Gas Company (MichCon), or SEMCO Energy Gas Company (SEMCO) you can now choose the company that sells you natural gas. In the past, your local gas utility has both sold you the gas and delivered it to you. Now, the utilities will continue to deliver gas to you but you may choose either another supplier or your local gas utility to sell you natural gas.

Consumers Energy's program began April 1, 2001, and MichCon's began April 1, 2002. MGU's program started June 1, 2002. SEMCO's progam started October 1, 2002. Suppliers of natural gas may contact you to sign you up in any of these utilities' service territories.

You can select the gas supplier of your choice or do nothing and continue to get your gas supplied by your local gas utility under regulated rates. The rates of other suppliers are not regulated. Your natural gas will continue to be delivered by your local gas utility regardless of which gas supplier you choose. If you smell gas or have other safety related concerns about your gas service, you should contact your local gas utility, just as you have done in the past.

If you wish to consider a new supplier, you should shop around, just as you would for any product. Look at the MPSC's, your local gas utility's and suppliers' web sites. Call suppliers and get their prices and contract terms. Read all information provided by the supplier before you sign the contract.