Dominion East Ohio Reminds Customers of Payment
Plans and Encourages Conservation During Cold Weather
A number of special programs are available to help customers
of Dominion East Ohio, who are experiencing higher natural gas bills because
of extremely cold temperatures.
With gas furnaces already operating longer and harder, and
colder-than-normal temperatures predicted for the next several weeks, Dominion
reminds customers of the availability of various energy assistance and payment
plans, and recommends a list of conservation tips to help save energy. The company
also advises customers to try to call between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Wednesdays
through Fridays, for the quickest service since its call center experiences
heavier than normal call volume on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The colder-than-normal winter weather not only means customers
will use more natural gas, but also that costs are going up. The weather has
driven up demand and natural gas prices on the national market. As a result,
Dominion East Ohio sales customers, who purchase their natural gas directly
from the utility, will see increases in their natural gas costs this winter,
including an 11 percent increase in the gas cost rate for three months. Customers
who purchase natural gas from participating suppliers under the Energy Choice
program are covered by their respective supplier contracts at various prices.
Customers only have to fill out just one application form
to be eligible for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Percentage
of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). For an application, customers should call the
State of Ohio HEAP office at 1-800-282-0880.
The Home Energy Assistance Program (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 $13,290 for one person; $17,910 for
two people; $27,150 for four; $36,390 for six. For details, call the state HEAP
office toll-free at, 1-800-282-0880.
The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) helps
a customer maintain gas service by paying 10 percent of his/her total monthly
household income. To qualify, a customer must meet HEAP/PIPP income guidelines
and apply for HEAP. To apply for PIPP/HEAP, customers should take proof of their
total household income for the past three or 12 months to the local HEAP office.
For the nearest HEAP office, customers should call toll-free, 1-800-282-0880.
Call Dominion for more information.
For a customer with a past-due balance, Dominion offers the
Current-Plus Plan to help better manage gas bills. After the customer
decides how many months-up to six-it will take to pay off their balance, the
company divides the current account balance by the number of months the customer
selected, and adds that amount to the customer's current monthly bill. The Current-Plus
Plan is available to all residential customers. If a customer joins this or
any other payment plan, the customer must make the required payments in full
and on time. To learn more about payment options or the Current-Plus Plan, call
Dominion at 1-800-362-7557.
With the Budget Payment Plan, a customer pays a fixed
budget amount each month. Dominion will review a customer's budget amount in
February, June and October, and change it, if needed. Customers must be
current with their bill to be eligible. To sign up, customers should call Dominion
at 1-800-362-7557.
Residential customers of Dominion whose gas service has been
disconnected for nonpayment, or are in danger of loss of service, may restore
their service or avoid disconnection under special winter heating reconnection
procedures in effect through April 15, 2003. Participating customers also have
to agree to participate in a payment plan to pay off past-due balances. The
reconnection procedure can only be used once between now and April 15, 2003.
In accordance with a Public Utilities Commission of Ohio order, Dominion customers
can maintain gas service or have it restored, by choosing one of the following:
Pay the entire past-due balance shown on the bill, not to exceed $175;
Pay past-due default payments if a customer is on a special payment plan,
up to $175;
Pay $175.
EnergyShare, a Dominion sponsored fuel assistance program
of last resort, is designed to help needy individuals and families pay any type
of winter heating bill-natural gas, wood, oil, kerosene or electricity. Customers
should contact their Local Salvation Army office to apply. A grant of up to
$500 may be awarded to eligible customers.
The Medical Certification Program delays a shutoff,
or restores service, when it would be life threatening, or especially dangerous,
to the health of a permanent member of a customer's household. Medical certification
forms are available by calling Dominion. The program allows customers to make
payment arrangements--it does not reduce the amount they owe.
Looking to save money on your gas bill? Consider these low-cost, no-cost conservation
tips from Dominion.
Protect your thermostat from drafts so your furnace turns on only when additional
warmth is needed. Try to use doors furthest away from your thermostat.
Change furnace filters according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Caulk and weather strip your windows and add door sweeps beneath doors for
added insulation. Block off drafts at the bottom of doors with a rolled-up
throw rug or bath towel.
Avoid blocking radiators, heat registers and cold-air returns.
Install storm windows and doors; they can reduce heat loss in these areas
by 50 percent.
