Washington Gas

A group of natural gas suppliers opposed parts of a proposed state bill yesterday that would add consumer protections to Maryland's deregulated gas market, saying the changes would require them to raise rates. The legislation, proposed by Sen. Brian E. Frosh, would grant licensing authority for gas suppliers to the Maryland Public Service Commission, as well as the authority to enforce comprehensive consumer protections. Gas-deregulation efforts in the state "are generally successful, but there's no clear legislative oversight," said Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat.

A Philadelphia power company has emerged as the winner in a contest to lure natural gas customers in the Washington suburbs, one of the first instances nationwide of utility industry competition.Of the 6,600 Prince George's and Montgomery County residents eligible to participate in a voluntary pilot program to select natural gas suppliers set up by state regulators, Peco Energy Co. subsidiary Horizon Energy garnered more than half, signing up 3,693 households by the deadline yesterday.But the victory carried an expensive price tag. Horizon estimates it spent nearly $500,000 to convince residents to switch, including money for advertising, the creation of a computer home page on the World Wide Web, mailings and research.

In what is expected to become the opening salvo in the battle of utility deregulation in Maryland, residential customers in Prince George's and Montgomery counties will be barraged beginning later this week with options for purchasing natural gas.The chance to switch from Washington Gas Light Co. to a bevy of competing gas suppliers stems from a pilot program approved in June by the state's Public Service Commission. Under the two-year program, 6,600 Washington Gas customers will have the opportunity to choose between a dozen qualified gas suppliers for service beginning in November.

The Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., deeply enmeshed in completing a merger with the Potomac Electric Power Co., is considering a similar future alliance with the Washington area's primary natural gas supplier, company sources said.Although BGE has yet to hold formal talks with the Washington Gas Light Co., several "high-level discussions" on the subject have occurred internally at the $8.1 billion utility.But a top Washington Gas official said last week that such a combination between the $1.3 billion gas supplier and Constellation Energy Corp.

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce, which primarily represents business interests in the state General Assembly, has selected a Washington-area utility executive to lead the organization for the next two years.Wayne A. Mills, vice president and general manager of the Maryland division of Washington Gas Light Co., a natural gas utility, was elected to the nonpaying chairman position at a meeting of the chamber's board on May 4, according to Gene Bracken, a spokesman for the chamber.Mr. Mills, 51, who has been on the chamber's board for two years, has worked for Washington Gas for 32 years and has headed the Maryland division since 1989.

Bush, Major seek trade pushPresident Bush and British Prime Minister John Major called yesterday for completion of global trade talks in Geneva by the middle of January. Mr. Bush and Mr. Major spoke after a meeting at the White House that also included European Community Commission President Jacques Delors.The GATT talks have been at an impasse, with speculation growing that it could not be resolved before Mr. Bush leaves office. The talks had all but broken down over a U.S.-EC dispute on ending farm subsidies.

Gov. William Donald Schaefer has one parked in his driveway. So does his transportation secretary.The chairman of the state public service commission drives one exclusively when he's on the job. Soon, dozens of state employees will be given them, and transit riders will get their chance to ride, too.They are cars, vans, trucks and buses powered by natural gas.The concept isn't new, nor is most of the technology. But concern over air pollution has heightened interest in natural gas powered vehicles, which are generally cleaner running than are their gasoline- or diesel-fired counterparts.

Hubert T. CookElectrical estimatorServices for Hubert T. Cook, a retired electrical estimator for a contracting company, will be at 11 a.m. today at the Pritts Funeral Home in Westminster.Mr. Cook, who was 63, died Sunday after a heart attack at his home in Westminster.He retired about three months ago after working five years for Riggs Distler & Co. Earlier, he worked as an electrician, as a superintendent for the H. P. Foley Co. in Baltimore and briefly operated his own electrical contracting company.

Thomas Duckenfield, a former president of the National Bar Association, died of meningitis while hospitalized in Washington. was 57.Mr. Duckenfield, a District of Columbia resident since 1960, died Friday at the Washington Hospital Center.He served as the 47th president of the association, which is the nation's largest professional organization of black judges, legal scholars and law students. He also served as president of the Washington Bar Association.At the time of his death, Mr. Duckenfield was vice president and general manager of the D.C. Division of Washington Gas and president of the Maryland-D.