EGR Commerce Energy Grp.,

NEWTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Commerce Energy Group, Inc. (AMEX:EGR), a leading independent U.S. electricity and natural gas marketing company, announced today that its subsidiary, Commerce Energy of Ohio, Inc. (Commerce), has been chosen as the preferred supplier in their Newton Township Natural Gas Aggregation Program to offer a better deal to its residents and businesses. Commerce is offering an 18-month contract with a fixed rate of $9.45 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) for the May 2006 through the October 2006 meter cycle. A new rate will be issued in October 2006 which will remain fixed through the remainder of the 18-month program, protecting Newton residents and businesses from volatile winter gas rates. The Dominion East Ohio (DEO) gas cost recovery (GCR) rate for April billing is $9.716/Mcf. "Creating an aggregation agreement with Newton Township allows us to offer the lowest available fixed rate to their community," said Steve Boss, CEO of Commerce Energy Group. "A guaranteed fixed rate allows people to forecast their natural gas budget with confidence in a time when uncertainty and volatility has been driving natural gas prices to significant historical highs." According to Newton Township's consultant, Tom Bellish of Buckeye Energy Brokers, "the first year of the bulk buying program is off to a good start, with Newton representing the second aggregation program with an Ohio township in our effort with Commerce to help lower a substantial portion of Ohio residents' and businesses' monthly budget - their natural gas bill." Enrollment is free and current Commerce customers can switch to the new program without penalty; however, residents and businesses must enroll by May 5, 2006 to participate. New and existing customers residing in Newton may enroll in the program by calling 800-776-2856. Residents and businesses currently served by other suppliers should be aware of the obligations in their existing contracts before joining Newton's Natural Gas Aggregation program. About Buckeye Energy Brokers, Inc. Buckeye provides local governments with deregulated energy consulting to achieve buying leverage, risk mitigation, budget predictability, costs control and potential savings by aggregating residential and commercial customers and procuring deregulated energy. As an Ohio certified energy broker, independent of any energy supplier, Buckeye can form buying groups creating leverage to negotiate competitive pricing for aggregated members. As an experienced regulatory advisor for governmental aggregation, Buckeye has the most active Ohio natural gas contracts and has realized over $20 million in energy savings for aggregation groups. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity, the firm is committed to delivering economically sound energy management solutions to improve the quality of life of our local communities. For more information about Buckeye Energy Brokers, visit http://www.buckeyeenergybrokers.com/. About Commerce Energy of Ohio, Inc. Commerce Energy, Inc. doing business as Commerce Energy of Ohio, Inc in Ohio is a wholly owned subsidiary of Commerce Energy Group, Inc. (AMEX:EGR), a holding company doing business through its two wholly owned operating subsidiaries, Commerce Energy, Inc., and Skipping Stone Inc. Commerce Energy is a FERC licensed unregulated retail marketer of natural gas and electricity to homeowners, commercial and industrial consumers, and institutional customers in nine states. Our Ohio Public Utility Commission Gas Supplier License is 02-023(2). Skipping Stone is an energy consulting firm serving utilities, pipelines, merchant trading and technology companies. For more information, visit http://www.commerceenergy.com/. DATASOURCE: Commerce Energy Group, Inc. CONTACT: Frank Wanderski, Director of Marketing of Commerce Energy Group, +1-714-481-6615, ; or Thomas M. Bellish, President of Buckeye Energy Brokers, Inc., +1-330-730-4338, Web site: http://www.commerceenergygroup.com/ http://www.buckeyeenergybrokers.com/

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