REGION

REGION

No phone book delivery unless you request it

COLUMBUS – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio granted AT&T Ohio’s request to provide customers with an online, electronic version of the white pages as the primary means to access to telephone directory information. Customers may request that a free printed directory be sent to them by mail.

Ohio’s standards require telephone companies to provide customers with directory information through either a printed directory or free directory assistance. In January, AT&T requested a waiver of the rule.

The company noted that significant resources are expended annually to print and automatically distribute directories to customers who may not want or use them.

Dominion East Ohio’s gas price down $1.66

CLEVELAND — Dominion East Ohio said customers who buy natural gas from the utility will pay $6.81 per thousand cubic feet this month. The new Standard Service Offer is down $1.66 from January’s rate.

The company said increased domestic production in 2008 and a recession-driven reduction in industrial demand have resulted in lower national market prices for natural gas.

The rate applies to about one-third of Dominion East Ohio’s 1.2 million customers who don’t buy natural gas from other suppliers.

Stoneridge reschedules report, conference call

HOWLAND — Stoneridge has rescheduled its fourth-quarter earnings release and conference call from today to Feb. 25 to allow time to complete an analysis of impairment of its assets. The company said it still expects 2008 earnings to be between 40 cents and 46 cents a share, excluding one-time accounting charges.

From Vindicator staff reports