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Published on: 8/5/2007
Last Visited: 8/5/2007
The pre-pay deal will allow the local energy acquisition company to purchase natural gas at an estimated 60 cents to 70 cents below the market price throughout the 20-year time frame, said Philip Bell, vice president of energy supply at Tennergy.
"We expect a 10 percent discount on the cost of gas to all participants," he said.
Tennergy supplies natural gas to the Jackson Energy Authority.The price Tennergy will pay for the natural gas still will fluctuate; so, energy authority customers still will see increases or decreases in natural gas charges.The prepay agreement simply allows Tennergy to buy the fuel at a constant discount.
"It will always be around 60 (cents) to 70 cents less than the market price," Bell said.
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"That would generate about $1.5 million annually in profits (for Tennergy)," Bell said, "not including legal fees and other costs."
How much savings JEA and other utility customers will see depends on the price of the fuel and whether the companies pass the savings onto customers or use the additional funds for projects or other expenses.
Jackson residents have no obligation to repay any portion of the $2.6 billion borrowed should Tennergy default on the bond issuance, Bell said.That responsibility falls on JPMorgan Chase Co., which is backing the project.Should one of the municipalities or suppliers be unable to pay Tennergy, JPMorgan Chase & Co. would make the payment for them, Bell said.
"JPMorgan is allowing that if something catastrophic happens, the debt will be paid by its parent company," Bell said."(Any) obligation to the city or Tennergy is just not there."
Tennergy also is paying a bond insurance company to insure the bonds, Bell said.
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If no one in the group purchases the excess, Tennergy could then look for outside buyers, Bell said.
"It would not be difficult to find buyers, because we would always be selling at a discount (to market)," he said.
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Source: Philip E. Bell, vice president Energy Supply for Tennergy Corporation