Dominion East Ohio Contributes $350,000 to EnergyShare, Prepares for Heating Assistance Program's Ninth Season

CLEVELAND, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dominion East Ohio has contributed $350,000 to EnergyShare, the company's last-resort assistance program for customers in dire need to pay heating bills. The company made the contribution in light of expected greater customer need this winter.

EnergyShare is supported by donations from Dominion, its customers, its employees and the general public. The program helps income-eligible customers pay to heat their homes no matter what form of energy they use – not just natural gas – after they have exhausted all other forms of assistance. 

"With the continuing difficult economic and weather conditions, we expect more of our customers will need to seek energy assistance this winter, including many who have never had to seek such help before," said Anne E. Bomar, Dominion East Ohio senior vice president and general manager. "To help meet this ongoing need, Dominion is making this $350,000 EnergyShare contribution."

The Salvation Army, which administers EnergyShare throughout Dominion East Ohio's service area, began accepting applications January 4.  This is the ninth year Dominion East Ohio has conducted EnergyShare, which has raised more than $3.2 million and helped more than 15,916 families, including 2,978 during the 2008-2009 heating season alone.

Administering agencies can help individuals to determine if they qualify. For information on the nearest screening agency, call the local Salvation Army. To qualify for EnergyShare assistance, a person must live in Dominion East Ohio's service area and

• Be in danger of losing an important heat source;
• Have a household income no more than one-half of the local median income level;
• May be unemployed; or
• Demonstrate a personal or family crisis. 

Eligible persons can receive a one-time payment of up to $600 per heating season. Because Dominion and the agencies pay all administrative costs, every dollar contributed to EnergyShare goes directly to pay heating bills.  The funds can be used for any type of heat – oil, coal, wood, kerosene, natural gas or electricity.

Customers can contribute to EnergyShare year round by adding an extra $1, $2, $6, $12, $18 or $36 to their Dominion East Ohio bills. Dominion's billing system automatically will recognize these designated amounts as EnergyShare contributions and will document them on the next bill. Customers also may send a separate check for EnergyShare contributions in any amount along with their bill payments.  

EnergyShare donations also can be sent directly to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 5847, Cleveland, Ohio 44101-0847. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Dominion (NYSE: D) is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of more than 27,500 megawatts of generation, 1.1 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas and oil reserves, 14,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines.  Dominion operates the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 975 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion East Ohio

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