CLEVELAND, Oct. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion
Energy Ohio reminds customers of the various company payment plans
and government energy assistance programs that can help them stay
warm this winter. Customers who may not be able to afford
their heating bills are urged to contact Dominion Energy Ohio
immediately to inquire about payment plans and energy assistance
programs. For additional information, customers can call
Dominion Energy Ohio at 1-800-362-7557. Hearing-impaired customers
with Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf can call 711.
For more information about payment plans and government energy
assistance programs, visit
www.dominionenergy.com/home-and-small-business/pay-my-bill/payment-assistance.
Dominion Energy 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 Energy Ohio
periodically reviews the budget amount and adjusts it, if
necessary, so that the customer will not have a high balance or
large credit at the end of the budget year. Customers should call
the company for more information.
- Current-Plus Plan: Customers with a past-due balance pay
their current monthly bill, plus one-sixth 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 balance 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,
2017, through April 13,
2018.
- Short–Term Extension grants up to five additional days
to pay before the next bill date.
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Winter Reconnection
Order
All residential customers, regardless of
income, may avoid a shutoff or restore gas service once during the
heating season between now and April 13,
2018, by paying the lesser of:
- the entire past-due balance on your gas bill;
- the past-due payments if you are on a special payment
plan;
- or $175.
If service has been disconnected, a reconnect fee of
$33, plus applicable taxes, will be
billed to the account. Customers will be enrolled automatically in
the One-Ninth Payment Plan when using the Winter Reconnection Order
to help pay off any additional past-due balance. Customers may
select a different plan by calling Dominion Energy Ohio.
Government Assistance Programs
The
following programs are available for income-eligible customers.
Customers can apply for all programs with one application at
www.energyhelp.ohio.gov, which provides income guidelines as well.
Applications also are available at post offices and libraries or by
calling the Ohio Development Services Agency at 1-800-282-0880.
Hearing-impaired customers with Telecommunications Devices for the
Deaf can call 711.
- Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus): To
qualify for this special payment plan, developed by the Public
Utilities Commission of Ohio, a
customer's yearly gross household income can be up to 150 percent
of federal poverty guidelines.
Under PIPP Plus, participating customers may maintain their natural
gas service by paying 6 percent of their total gross monthly
household income, or $10, whichever
is greater.
PIPP Plus has special benefits for participating customers.
Each time customers make their required PIPP Plus monthly payments
in full by the due date, Dominion Energy Ohio will credit their
accounts for the rest of that month's current charges, plus a
one-twenty-fourth credit toward their prior account balances. After
24 months of on-time and in-full PIPP Plus payments, their accounts
would become current.
The PIPP Plus maximum yearly household gross income levels for the
2017-2018 heating season are: $18,090
for one person; $24,360 for two
people; $30,630 for three;
$36,900 for four; $43,170 for five; $49,440 for six; $55,710 for seven; and $61,980 for eight. Add $6,270 for each additional person.
- The Winter Crisis Program (WCP), previously known as
Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (E-HEAP), provides a
one-time grant to help avoid a shutoff or to restore service once
between November 1, 2017, and
March 31, 2018. HEAP and WCP are
available to customers whose yearly gross income is up to 175
percent of the federal poverty guidelines. To qualify, a customer's
yearly gross household income can be up to $21,105 for one person; $28,420 for two; $35,735 for three; $43,050 for four; $50,365 for five; $57,680 for six; $64,995 for seven; and $72,310 for eight. Add $7,315 for each additional person. Local
community action agencies can assist with emergency payments to
help avoid disconnection. You can find available resources in your
community -- dial 2-1-1.
- Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) is a
federally funded program that provides grants for home
weatherization projects to customers whose incomes are no more than
200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. To qualify, a customer's
yearly gross household income can be up to $24,120 for one person; $32,480 for two; $40,840 for three; $49,200 for four; $57,560 for five; $65,920 for six; $74,280 for seven; and $82,640 for eight. Add $8,360 for each additional person.
Dominion Energy Ohio Assistance/Conservation Programs
- Dominion EnergyShare is a last-resort program after all
other state and federal assistance is exhausted. The Salvation Army
administers the Dominion-funded program. It is available to
Dominion Energy Ohio customers with a shut-off notice or who have
been disconnected. Applications can be made on or after
December 1. Customers should contact
their local Salvation Army Corps for more information or to
schedule an appointment.
- Dominion Energy Ohio's Housewarming Program provides
weatherization assistance to help income-eligible customers reduce
their energy usage. For information, call CHN Housing Partners
(formerly Cleveland Housing Network (CHN)), at 1-888-377-3774 or go
to
https://chnhousingpartners.org/housing-and-community-services/weatherize-my-home-and-more/
.
- Dominion Energy Ohio's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
(HPwES) Program through CLEAResult has been designed to help
our residential customers improve their homes' energy efficiency.
It all starts with a home energy assessment, now available at a
discounted price of $25.
Whether customers are making energy-efficient improvements to their
current home or recently purchased a new home, they can benefit
from having a home energy assessment. Rebates up to $1,250 are available for eligible improvements.
Customers may call 1-877-287-3416 to schedule an assessment or
visit www.deohpwes.com for program details and eligibility
information.
About Dominion Energy
Dominion Energy (NYSE: D)
is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of
energy, with a portfolio of approximately 25,700 megawatts of
generation, 15,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and
storage pipeline, and 6,600 miles of electric transmission lines.
Dominion Energy operates one of the nation's largest natural gas
storage systems with 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and
serves more than 6 million utility and retail energy customers. For
more information about Dominion Energy, visit the company's website
at www.DominionEnergy.com.
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SOURCE Dominion Energy Ohio