Dominion, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Urge Customers To Use Winter Payment Plans, Reconnection Procedures
Dominion is ready to deliver sufficient winter natural gas
supplies, but company and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) officials
advise customers to expect significantly higher heating bills, as national market
prices have increased sharply from the same period a year ago.
Dominion and PUCO officials also urge customers to look into
the company's budget payment plan and Energy Choice programs, along with government
energy assistance programs to help deal with expected higher heating costs.
Under a PUCO order, beginning today, 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, 2004. Participating customers also have to agree to participate in a payment
plan to pay off past-due balances. Customers can use this special winter reconnection
procedure only once between today and April 15, 2004. In accordance with a PUCO
order, Dominion customers can maintain gas service or have it restored, by choosing
one of the following plans, whichever costs them less:
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.
Dominion and PUCO officials encourage customers to consider
the various company payment plans and energy assistance programs to help them
deal with higher heating costs this winter. Effective October 30, Dominion will
adjust its gas cost recovery (GCR) rate to $8 per thousand cubic feet. The GCR
was $5.03 per MCF a year ago. The average Dominion East Ohio residential customer
can expect to pay $55, or 43 percent more per month during the months of November
and December and January, compared with the same period a year ago.
This regular quarterly GCR adjustment reflects sharply higher
national market gas prices, compared with same period a year ago. The current
wholesale price of natural gas is more than 50 percent higher than a year ago,
and prices are expected to remain high. Production of natural gas has continued
to decline again in 2003, after falling about 2 percent last year. Although
drilling has picked up of late in response to higher prices, increases in production
will not be felt until sometime in 2004.
Natural gas costs account for about two thirds of customers'
total bills. Dominion East Ohio has no control over national prices. The company
does not earn a profit on the GCR, in which it recovers costs associated with
securing natural gas supplies for its customers. The company passes along any
gas cost increases, or savings, directly to customers. Actual bills will vary,
depending on weather, home energy efficiency, the number of natural gas appliances
and household usage patterns.
"National market prices for natural gas are significantly
higher than last year," said Jay Johnson, president and chief executive
officer of Dominion's delivery business, which has more than 4 million customers.
"Dominion and the PUCO are joining together to alert customers and encourage
them to investigate budget payment plans, utilize special reconnection procedures
and explore options under Energy Choice and government energy assistance programs,
which could help them cope with higher home heating costs."
"As forecasts continue to project higher natural gas
bills this winter, it is imperative that customers consider their financial
situation and explore options available to them," PUCO Chairman Alan R.
Schriber stated. "We encourage Dominion's natural gas customers to explore
all energy savings options, including customer assistance programs, Energy Choice
and energy conservation practices.
For example, under Dominion's 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.
Income-eligible customers need only to fill out just one application
form to sign up 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.
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. Eligible customers
may receive an EnergyShare grant of up to $500.
Dominion's 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.
In the face of rising natural gas costs, Dominion and the
PUCO encourage customers to consider the Energy Choice program, under which
more than half of the company's 1.2 million customers already buy natural gas
commodities from a variety of different suppliers, while relying on Dominion
to continue delivering that gas to their homes or businesses.
The best source of Energy Choice supplier information is the
PUCO's "Apples to Apples" chart, which compares supplier offers. To
get a free copy by mail, contact the PUCO at 1-800-299-7271 or visit their website
at www.PUCO.ohio.gov .
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy,
with a diversified and integrated energy portfolio that includes 24,000 megawatts
of generation and 6.3 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves.
Dominion also serves 5 million retail energy customers in nine states.
