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Virginia Natural Gas Provides Energy Assistance Resources

Update: 6/17/2020 5:50 p.m.

Our customers’ wellbeing is central to every decision we make at Virginia Natural Gas, especially as the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on our communities continue to unfold. This why we’ve decided to suspend service disconnections to ensure that those who can’t pay their bills or whose jobs are affected by COVID-19 do not face the added hardship of interruption of services. We are assessing the needs of our communities on an ongoing basis to make sure we’re providing all the support we can, and when normal billing resumes, we will work with our customers to help them handle past-due obligations in a manageable way. In the meantime, we remind customers to visit virginianaturalgas.com.com to learn more about financial assistance or payment programs available.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – March 14, 2020 – In recognition that the evolving landscape surrounding the new coronavirus (COVID-19) may cause financial hardship for its customers impacted by employment changes or business slowdown, Virginia Natural Gas voluntarily has suspended service disconnections for non-payment, effective immediately for both residential and commercial customers.

“We understand that the services we provide are critical to our customers’ health and well-being,” said Jim Kibler, president of VNG. “As we face the growing impact of COVID-19 together, we want to ensure that every family and company in our community has the fuel they need to continue heating their homes, cooking their food, taking warm showers and running their businesses.”

Additionally, VNG offers programs and tools that can help customers take control of their energy bills, including:

  • VNG’s Budget Plan can help even 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 Plan is a free service for VNG customers. 

  • Our Energy Efficiency Program offers ideas and tools to help residential customers save energy and money. We provide the education, resources and financial rebates customers need to make energy use in their homes efficient and affordable. For energy-saving tips visit virginianaturalgas.com/energyefficiency.

  • VNG customers may consider making a Gift Payment to help someone in need. The gift payment form can be downloaded at virginianaturalgas.com.

VNG also wants to remind residential customers of energy assistance options available to support those impacted as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. The following local community agencies can help customers who may be experiencing personal financial strain resulting from the pandemic:

  • 211 Virginia

Contact 211 Virginia (dial 2-1-1) for a list of additional local resources and funding available for emergency assistance. Help is available 24/7.

  • Salvation Army 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 VNG 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.

  • These community-based organizations also may provide assistance with paying your bill:

  • The STOP Organization: 757.858.1360 (South Hampton Roads) 

  • Office of Human Affairs: 757.244.6121 (on the Peninsula) 

For more information about each of these programs or help managing natural gas costs, please visit virginianaturalgas.com.

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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 and has been recognized as one of the safest, most reliable and customer-focused natural gas service providers. Consistently ranked in the top quartile for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, the company has also been recognized by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Virginia Oil and Gas Association for its safety, community outreach and educational programs, and was named Local Distribution Company for three consecutive years. Virginia Natural Gas has been ranked by its business customers as being one of the most Trusted Business Partners in the utility industry according to Cogent Reports, and as one of the Top Workplaces in Hampton Roads by Inside Business. 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 
c: 757.323.7366 | rdelahay@southernco.com