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Heating Assistance Programs available for eligible households, now is the time to prepare for colder weather

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Oct. 7, 2019 – As the temperatures start to lower, thermostats tend to go up, which can make it difficult for some household budgets to keep up with the demands of using more energy. Virginia Natural Gas wants to help its customers better prepare for this year’s heating season by reminding those who may be eligible for financial assistance about programs available that could help offset winter heating costs.

General enrollment for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) begins Tuesday, Oct. 8, and continues through Friday, Nov. 8. The federal- and state-funded energy assistance program helps low- and fixed-income families, including senior citizens and persons with disabilities, meet their energy needs during the winter heating season. The monthly gross income of eligible households may not exceed $2,789, or about $33,475 annually for a family of four.

In Virginia, LIHEAP is administered by the Virginia Department of Social Services. Applications can be submitted online at commonhelp.virginia.gov/access or at local departments of social services, from the second Tuesday in October through the second Friday in November. For more information or to locate a local department of social services, call 211 Virginia (dial 2-1-1) or 804.726.7000.

Other energy assistance programs available to Virginia Natural Gas customers include:

  • EnergyShare is a supplemental program that provides a one-time annual grant to qualified residential customers. The program is administered by the Salvation Army and funded through direct contributions from Virginia Natural Gas employees and customers who make donations via their monthly natural gas bill payment. To apply for a grant, customers can contact their local Salvation Army to schedule an appointment, or call the EnergyShare hotline at 757.965.9012, ext. 1, for more information.
  • Virginia Natural Gas’ Budget Payment Plan evens out the highs and lows of natural gas costs throughout the year by allowing customers to pay a consistent amount every month for a 12-month period, making household budgeting a little easier. The Budget Payment Plan is a free service for Virginia Natural Gas customers. To learn more, call 866.229.3578.
  • The Energy Efficiency Program helps customers manage their costs by lowering out-of-pocket expenses for energy efficiency improvements through rebates and free home energy assessments and energy saving products. For more energy-saving tips visit virginianaturalgas.com/residential/energy-savings. 
  • Consider making a Gift Payment any time of the year to help someone in need. Give the gift of warmth by making a gift payment toward someone’s Virginia Natural Gas bill. Download the gift payment form, fill it in and mail it to us at the address you'll find on the form, or call us at 866.229.3578.

Every family deserves reliable energy at a price they can afford. For more information about each of these programs or help managing energy costs, please visit virginianaturalgas.com/residential/energy-assistance.



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About Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Natural Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Virginia Natural Gas provides natural gas service to nearly 300,000 customers in southeast Virginia. Virginia Natural Gas has been recognized as one of the safest, most reliable and customer-focused natural gas service providers and is consistently ranked in the top quartile for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates. In 2018, Virginia Natural Gas was named Local Distribution Company of the Year by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Virginia Oil and Gas Association for the third consecutive year. For more information, visit virginianaturalgas.com and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 700,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

Media Contact:
Rick DelaHaya
o: 757.616.7510 | c: 757.323.7366 | rdelahay@southernco.com