Dominion East Ohio Reminds Customers of PUCO Winter Reconnection Order, Payment Programs for Winter Heating Energy Assistance

CLEVELAND, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) issued the Winter Reconnection Order, which allows any Dominion East Ohio residential customer to restore service or to avoid a shutoff between Oct. 18, 2010, and April 15, 2011 by paying no more than $175. Under the order, customers who have had service disconnected for nonpayment can have their service restored by paying the amount they owe Dominion, not to exceed the $175 limit. A reconnect fee of $33 will also be billed to the account if the service has been disconnected.

There is no income eligibility requirement to use this program, and customers will be enrolled in a payment plan to help pay off any past-due balance. The reconnection plan can be used only once between now and April 15, 2011. To take advantage of the reconnection plan, customers should call Dominion East Ohio at 1-800-362-7557.

Dominion East Ohio works with customers on an individual basis to help them maintain service. The company strongly urges customers who know they will not be able to maintain regular payments to contact Dominion East Ohio immediately to inquire about Dominion East Ohio payment plans and energy assistance programs.

Dominion East Ohio offers the following payment options to residential and small commercial customers (using less than 500 thousand cubic feet (MCF) a year)

• Budget Billing allows customers to pay a fixed budget amount each month, based on annual gas usage. Dominion East Ohio will review the budget amount regularly and adjust it, if necessary, so that the customer will not have a high balance or large credit at the end of the budget year. Customers with a past-due balance may be eligible for the Budget Plus plan. Customers pay a budget amount, plus 1/12th of the total account balance at the time they enroll in the plan. To sign up for either plan, customers should call Dominion East Ohio.
• Current-Plus Plan: Customers with a past-due balance pay their current monthly bill, plus 1/6th of the total account balance at the time they enroll in the plan.
• The One-Ninth Plan allows customers to pay one-ninth of their total account each month plus a calculated budget amount.
• Under the One-Third Winter Heating Plan, customers pay one-third of their total account balance each month for bills that include gas used from November 1, 2010, through April 15, 2011. If a customer has a balance remaining at the end of the winter heating season, Dominion will automatically enroll a customer in the Current-Plus Plan.
• 12 months, they will be removed from PIPP plus. Customers can re-verify sooner if their household size or income changes.

Other energy governmental energy assistance programs include:

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides a one-time credit for heating bills for residential customers whose incomes are no more than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. To qualify, a customer's yearly gross household income can be up to $21,660 for one person; $29,140 for two people; $36,620 for three; and $44,100 for four. Add $7,480 for each additional person. Call 1-800-282-0880 for application information or go to www.energyhelp.ohio.gov .

Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) is a federally funded program that provides grants to eligible customers for home weatherization projects. For details call 1-800-282-0880.

Dominion East Oho also offers the Medical Certificate Program delays a shutoff, or restores service, when it could be life threatening, or especially dangerous to the health of a permanent member of the household. Verbal certification may be accepted by a licensed medical professional, provided that Dominion East Ohio receives the written notification within seven days. To receive a medical certification form, call 1-800-950-7989.

The Housewarming Program also provides weatherization assistance to help eligible customers reduce their energy usage. For information, call the Cleveland Housing Network (CHN) at 1-888-377-3774.

For more information about any program, visit www.dom.com or call 1-800-362-7557, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,600 megawatts of generation, 12,000 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 system with 942 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com. 

SOURCE Dominion East Ohio

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