Gas News Release

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November 16, 2007

Winter Reconnection Procedures Implemented

Residential customers of Dominion East Ohio, whose gas service has been disconnected, or is in danger of loss of service because of nonpayment, may restore service or avoid disconnection under special winter heating reconnection procedures in effect now through April 15, 2008.

In accordance with a Public Utilities Commission of Ohio order, Dominion East Ohio customers can maintain gas service, or have it restored, by choosing the lowest cost of the following options:

• Pay the entire past-due balance shown on the bill;
• Pay past-due default amount if a customer is on a special payment plan;
• Pay $175. If a customer’s service has already been disconnected, the customer must pay the $175, and an applicable reconnection fee to restore service.

There is no income eligibility requirement to use this program, but customers will be enrolled in a payment plan to help pay off any past-due balance. The reconnection procedure can only be used once between now and April 15, 2008.

To take advantage of the reconnection procedure, customers should call Dominion East Ohio at 1-800-950-7989.

Dominion’s Budget Billing Plan enables customers to pay a fixed budget amount each month. Dominion East Ohio will review the budget amount periodically, and adjust it, if necessary, so that the customer won’t have a high bill or large credit at the end of the budget year. Customers must be current with their bill to be eligible for the budget billing option. To sign up, customers should call Dominion East Ohio at 1-800-362-7557.

Dominion East Ohio also offers to eligible customers the Current-Plus Plan to help better manage gas bills. First, the customer decides how many months—up to six—it will take to pay off their balance. Then the company divides the total 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 who are not enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). With the One-Third Payment Option, a payment of one-third of the total account balance is accepted to reconnect or prevent disconnection from November 1, 2007, to April 15, 2008. To learn more about these payment options, call Dominion East Ohio at 1-800-362-7557.

Dominion East Ohio reminds all of its customers of the availability of various energy assistance programs and payment options to help with upcoming winter heating bills, or past-due balances. Income-eligible customers also may use a variety of energy assistance programs to help pay for natural gas service this winter:

• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): State officials again have allocated additional Temporary Aid for Needy Families funds to make HEAP assistance available for a greater number of Ohioans. Typically, HEAP is open to customers whose income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. But, in Ohio again this winter, HEAP will be available to customers with incomes at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level, so more households will be able to participate. Under these expanded Ohio HEAP guidelines, yearly gross household income can be for a household of one person, up to $17,867.50; two, up to $23,957.50; three: up to $30,047.50; four: up to $36,137.50; five: up to $42,227.50; six: up to $48,317.50; seven: up to $54,407.50; eight: up to $60,497.50. For households with more than eight members, add $6,090 per additional member.
  
  
• Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP): Under PIPP, customers may maintain their natural gas service by paying 10 percent of their monthly gross household income. Here are this year’s income eligibility guidelines, which are up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level. For a household of one person, up to $15,315; two, up to $20,535; three: up to $25,755; four: up to $30,975; five: up to $36,195; six: up to $41,415; seven: up to $46,635; eight: up to $51,855. For households with more than eight members, add $5,220 per additional member. Customers seeking HEAP or PIPP information should call the Office of Community Services at 1-800-282-0880.
  
  
• EnergyShare: This program, supported by donations from Dominion customers and its employees, is designed to help those in need heat their homes after all other assistance has been exhausted.  To qualify for EnergyShare assistance, a person must live in Dominion’s service area and be in danger of losing an important heat source.  The recipient must have a household income no more than one-half of the local median income level, be unemployed, or demonstrate a personal or family crisis. For information on the nearest screening agency, call 1-888-667-3000. The program has raised more than $22 million in its 24-year history. EnergyShare donations can be sent to P.O. Box 11186, Richmond, Va. 23230. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a portfolio of more than 26,500 megawatts of generation.  Dominion serves retail energy customers in 11 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at http://www.dom.com.