Q: I just received a notice from Dominion Peoples Plus for Duquesne Light customers. It states, "Enroll with Dominion Peoples Plus and receive a 10 percent discount off your electricity generation AND transmission price through your May 2008 meter read date -- GUARANTEED." This looks like a no-brainer -- you'd have to be crazy not to join, even though the old saying states, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is."

BERT R. LINDSTROM
Scott

A: In this case, Bert, it is a no-brainer. It is a good deal for Duquesne Light residential customers who switch to Dominion Peoples Plus as their electric supplier. The bills will still come from Duquesne Light. The difference is that you will be charged 10 percent less on your generation and transmission fees.

I would not hesitate to sign up. A similar offer was extended to Penn Power customers earlier this year. The savings aren't enormous, but 10 percent is 10 percent. The offer falls short of taking you through next summer's air-conditioning season, but it is a guarantee of nine months of savings on your electric bill. The number to call at Dominion Peoples Plus is 1-800-363-8790.

Q: After reading your article in "Post Your Problems" on gas choice in February, I called Dominion Peoples Plus, because they are my gas supplier and I am a Dominion Peoples gas customer, to ask for a lower price since the $8.45 per mcf was going to jump to $10.95 on Jan. 31. I received the new price of $8.33 for three months thru April 30. On April 2, I called Dominion and they told me the $8.33 was good thru April 30 and that if I received a letter then, it would be going up, but if I got no letter the price would stay the same or go lower. I received no letter and on my May statement the commodity charge for 4.5 mcf stayed at $8.33. It has gone up every statement thereafter. On the most recent statement two days ago it was $10.5068 per mcf. Can you tell me why it is going up every month and should I be calling for a lower price?

CYNTHIA SULLIVAN
Coraopolis

A: It is always a good idea to call Dominion Peoples Plus to find out if there is a lower price. If you don't ask, you don't get. Dominion Peoples Plus is the only natural gas supplier that allows you to request a lower price mid-contract, which is why I think it is the best deal for gas choice customers.

That said, here's what happened to you. You were one of many customers who moved to $8.33 per mcf through April.

Kim Kujbus of Dominion Peoples Plus said, "You should have received a terms-and-conditions letter after making the switch. That letter stated that one of two things would happen. If you were going to move on to another fixed price, you would have been notified. If we do not have a fixed price, you would be given the market priced variable rate until the agreement is canceled."

That's a rate that varies month to month depending on current market conditions. It's usually not a better deal than a fixed rate.

You say your latest price is $10.50 per mcf. Ms. Kujbus says the variable rate for August is $9.01. You should definitely call the company and check your price.

Is it time to switch back to Dominion Peoples, your regulated gas company? It's a tough call. Dominion Peoples is offering a fixed price of $8.47 plus an 82-cent gas cost adjustment charge for a total of $9.29. Remember that you pay the gas cost adjustment for one year after you switch to a gas supplier and do not pay it for one year after you switch back to your regulated utility.

Dominion Peoples Plus is offering new fixed rates. The rates don't look too tempting at the moment, but they do remain fixed until the fall of next year. Its new price for Equitable Gas Co. customers is $12.80 per mcf -- compared with Equitable's $10.01 plus $1.26 gas cost adjustment. The new price for Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania customers is 99 cents per ccf -- compared with Columbia's price of 86 cents per ccf.