Gas News Release

March 23, 2001

Dominion East Ohio Reminds Customers of March 31 Home Energy Assistance, Emergency HEAP Deadline

Dominion East Ohio reminds customers that the March 31, 2001, deadline is fast approaching for seeking help with this winter’s higher heating bills through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program. The combination of high natural gas costs and record cold early-winter temperatures have made it difficult for many customers to pay their higher-than-usual heating bills.

The company urges customers to contact Dominion East Ohio if they know they will have difficulties paying their winter heating bills. The company has a variety of budget and other payment plans and will continue its longstanding practice of working out individual payment arrangements, if necessary.

For example, under the Budget Payment Plan, a customer pays a fixed budget amount each month. Dominion East Ohio will review a customer’s budget amount periodically and change it, if needed, so that the customer won’t have a high bill or large credit at the end of the budget year. To sign up, customers should call their local Dominion East Ohio office.

The One-Sixth Payment Plan helps customers pay off their past-due account balance. Under the plan, any previous balance of $100 or more is divided equally over the next six months, and added to a special budget amount. If customers have a balance of $100 or more and wish to participate in the plan, they should call their local Dominion East Ohio office.

Along with company payment programs, HEAP and other government-funded programs are also available to help customers cope with high winter heating bills. New this year, customers can complete a single application form to be eligible for all of the following programs: HEAP, Emergency HEAP, Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIP) and Home Weatherization Assistance Program. Customers may contact the State of Ohio HEAP office at 1-800-282-0880. Customers with Telecommuncations Devices for the Deaf (TDDs) can call 1-800-686-1557.

Emergency HEAP provides a one-time grant of up to $175 to help avoid a shutoff or to restore gas service once during the heating season. Under special Winter Reconnection procedures, developed jointly with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, customers can maintain gas service or have it restored by choosing the plan that costs customers less:

• Pay the entire past-due balance shown on the bill.
• Pay past-due default payments if a customer is on a special payment plan.
• Pay $175, available through Emergency HEAP.

Regular HEAP provides a credit that is applied to a customer’s heating bill. To qualify, a customer’s yearly gross household income can be up to $12,525 for one person; $16,875 for two people; $21,225 for three; $25,575 for four; $29,925 for five and $34,275 for six. Add $4,350 for each additional person. For details, call the state HEAP office’s toll-free number, 1-800-282-0880.

The Percentage of Income Plan (PIP) enables a customer keep the gas on by paying 10 percent of his or her total monthly household income. To qualify, a customer must meet HEAP/PIP income guidelines and apply for HEAP. Household income means all money received during the last 12 months for all adults in the household. Gross household income is all income received before deductions. Income includes: wages, Social Security, state unemployment, veterans benefits, strike benefits, workers’ compensation, cash public assistance, relief payments, alimony and interest. It does not include money earned by children under 18.

Because of the urgent need this winter, the State of Ohio has launched Project THAW (Temporary Heating Assistance for Warmth), which provides a one-time credit of up to $250 to help families pay their heating bills. This new program is designed to help those families whose annual income exceeds the HEAP standards. Households earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for Project Thaw assistance. For a family of four, this is an income of $34,056 per year. Applications will be accepted until the close of business March 30, 2001, or until funds are exhausted. For more information on Project THAW, call, toll-free, 1-800-282-0880.

Along with HEAP, Project THAW and other government assistance programs, Dominion East Ohio this year has made two major changes to its People Helping People Fuel Fund program. Because of the great need this winter, Dominion East Ohio bolstered its usual $50,000 initial Fuel Fund contribution by $1 million. The Salvation Army administers the program, with funds coming from the shareholders of Dominion, parent company of Dominion East Ohio. The other major change is that the company has opened the Fuel Fund to all customers, regardless of income level, provided they have exhausted all other forms of aid and can show proof of an imminent utility shutoff.

After its initial $1.05 million contribution is exhausted, Dominion East Ohio will match contributions from the general public on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Fuel Fund contributions from the community will be used in the area from which they are received. Tax-deductible Fuel Fund contributions should be mailed to: The Salvation Army People-Helping-People Fuel Fund, P. O. Box 6538, Cleveland, OH 44115.

Dominion East Ohio is a subsidiary of Dominion, which is headquartered in Richmond, Va., and serves 3.8 million retail natural gas and electric customers. For more information about Dominion, visit the company’s web site at www.dom.com.