Gas News Release

October 26, 2001

Payment Matching Program Helps Dominion East Ohio Customers Pay Off Heating Bills

CLEVELAND, OH - Dominion East Ohio residential customers, regardless of income, whose service has been disconnected or who have received a shut-off notice can now take advantage of a one-time payment matching program to help pay off heating bills. To be eligible customers must have received a disconnection notice or have been disconnected as of Oct. 31, 2001, in order to participate.

Under the payment matching program, Dominion East Ohio will match, dollar-for-dollar--up to $500 per customer--the first payment made before Dec. 31, 2001, by any customer who has received a disconnection notice or whose service has been disconnected. The customer also would begin a payment plan to pay off past-due balances. The program goes into effect immediately.

Customers who are disconnected or facing disconnection can restore or maintain their service by paying the required amount listed on their natural gas bill, or the reconnection fee of $175, whichever is less. Dominion East Ohio will match the customer's payment dollar-for-dollar up to $500. For instance, if a customer owes $1,000 and pays $500 on that bill, the company will match the customer payment of $500, giving the customer a zero balance. Matching payments would be credited to a customer's account not to exceed that account balance. Eligible customers should call 1-800-966-3354 to make payment arrangements and to sign up for the payment matching program.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved the $175 reconnection fee in its winter reconnection rules earlier this month. Income-eligible customers may obtain the $175 to restore or maintain their natural gas service through the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program.

"With another winter right around the corner, Dominion East Ohio wants to help customers who are still struggling financially with high bills, as a result of last year's bitter cold weather and record high natural gas prices," said Edgar M. Roach, Jr., chief executive officer of Dominion East Ohio.

Dominion is funding the payment matching program through an accounting change reviewed and approved by the PUCO. Money made available by the change will be used solely to fund the payment matching program and to cover additional bad debt expense that the company incurs. The company is required to submit a report to the PUCO next spring reporting on the program's results.

Dominion, headquartered in Richmond, Va., is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a production capability of 2.7 trillion British thermal units of energy per day. The company has a power-generation portfolio of more than 21,000 megawatts, which is expected to grow to more than 28,000 megawatts by 2005. Dominion is one of the largest independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in North America, with nearly 3 trillion cubic feet of equivalent reserves. Dominion also serves nearly 4 million retail natural gas and electric customers. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.