21.   The Cincinnati-based electric and gas utility declined to identify potential merger candidates.

22.   The best defense, experts say, is annual inspection by a heating contractor or a technician from the local gas utility.

23.   The commission regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, surface coal mining and some aspects of railroads.

24.   The latter index has traditionally included electric and gas utilities, not telephone companies.

25.   The new protection is the latest variation in hedging programs, which have become increasingly popular among gas utilities.

26.   The rules would also apply to those divisions of electric and gas utilities, oil companies and fuel distributors that produce or sell alternative fuels.

27.   Those computers send the information via the Internet to state and local emergency response agencies, electric and gas utilities, telephone companies and television and radio stations.

28.   Whatever their gas utility pays for gas is paid by customers through the purchased gas adjustment or cost-of-gas part of the monthly bill.

29.   Wood said that whatever the fate of the Missouri Gas Energy plan, consumers could expect change for next winter in how gas utilities did their buying.

30.   Your local gas utility will still deliver the gas to you and still be regulated.