Washington Gas Expects Winter Bills to Increase and Encourages Customers to Prepare for Heating Season
November 01 2016 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Washington Gas announced today that its customers could expect a
20 percent increase in heating bills over last winter due to last
year’s mild winter weather. Natural gas prices may vary if
temperatures are colder than anticipated and create an increased
demand for natural gas. With an anticipated return to normal
weather this winter, resulting in increased usage and higher bills,
Washington Gas encourages customers to prepare accordingly for the
heating season.
“We are committed to providing safe, reliable natural gas
service to communities across the region while ensuring that our
customers have the energy answers they need to stay warm this
winter,” said Adrian Chapman, President and Chief Operating Officer
at Washington Gas. “Throughout the summer and fall, we have filled
our natural gas storage services. These services are essential to
meeting winter demand. We also maintain access to a diverse set of
natural gas supply points to cost effectively serve our customers’
needs under all weather conditions.”
As utility bills can be hard to navigate, Washington Gas
encourages customers to ask any questions that they have when bills
arrive. In short, bills have three components:
- The gas supplied to the customer
(calculated and noted in “therms” in the Purchased Gas Charge
section of the bill)
- The cost of delivering the gas (labeled
the Distribution Charge), and
- The system charge, a fixed monthly
amount that covers certain costs of providing natural gas service,
such as maintenance and repair of critical infrastructure.
As a regulated utility, Washington Gas charges customers the
same price that the company pays for the natural gas supply,
transportation and storage. Taxes or other fees levied by state and
local governments are also included as separate line items on the
bill.
Customers will see a fluctuation in their bill amounts as
seasons change, with more energy from natural gas being used in the
coldest months of winter. So, as colder weather approaches,
Washington Gas continues to encourage customers to prepare their
homes by taking simple steps now to help manage energy costs and
stay safe, warm and energy-smart when temperatures start to
drop:
- Change or clean your furnace or air
filters once a month, and schedule an annual furnace or boiler
check-up with a licensed professional.
- Caulk and weather strip around doors
and windows.
- Install rubber gaskets behind outlet
and switch plates.
- Check dampers in unused fireplaces, and
close them if they are open.
- Turn the water heater down to warm or
low settings, never more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wash full loads of laundry in cold
water, using specially-formulated cold water detergents.
- Consider installing new,
high-efficiency appliances and look for the ENERGY STAR label for
efficiency ratings.
- Consider purchasing a programmable
thermostat, which automatically lowers the temperature setting at
night and increases the setting during the day.
Always Safe!
At Washington Gas, safety is the number one priority. That is
why it is particularly important that customers are aware of a
winter hazard and what to do about it. Washington Gas strongly
encourages anyone who smells gas to move to a safe location and
call 911 and the Washington Gas emergency line
at 703-750-1400.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas,
created when fossil fuels are not burned completely. The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends putting CO detectors
outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area of your home.
Also recommended is the installation of smoke alarms on each level
of your residence and inside every bedroom. For both types of
devices, check batteries monthly and replace them at least twice a
year.
Payment Plans
Washington Gas offers several payment plans and services to help
manage energy costs. For those customers having difficulty paying
their natural gas bills, contact Washington Gas as soon as possible
to learn about alternative payment plans that may be available.
Plans include:
- The Washington Gas Budget Plan:
This plan allows eligible customers to spread the cost of winter
heating over the entire year. It helps to minimize the impact of
typically higher seasonal bills and provides greater flexibility in
managing a household budget. The Budget Plan is designed as a
12-month program, and we encourage customers to stay on it
year-round to realize the potential benefits.
- Customer Choice: This is an
option for customers to buy their natural gas from a licensed
energy supply company other than Washington Gas. Regardless of
which company sells you natural gas, Washington Gas will continue
to deliver the gas safely and reliably to your home through its
distribution system, address your customer needs and respond around
the clock to natural gas emergencies. For more information, visit
washingtongas.com, place your cursor over MY ACCOUNT and click on
Customer Choice.
- The Washington Area Fuel Fund
(WAFF): Founded by Washington Gas and administered by The
Salvation Army, WAFF helps families who do not qualify for, or who
have exhausted, government energy assistance. WAFF provides funds
for all types of fuel to heat families' homes during the winter
heating season. Washington Gas pays the administrative fees of the
fund so 100 percent of WAFF donations go directly to those who need
assistance. For more information or to apply for assistance,
contact The Salvation Army at 888-318-WAFF (9233) or visit
washingtonareafuelfund.org.
Further, if a customer or someone they know is having difficulty
paying a natural gas bill in the District of Columbia, they can
also contact the Department of Energy & Environment
(DOEE) at 311 or online to determine eligibility for the
following program:
- Residential Essential Service (RES)
Program: Eligible Washington, D.C. residents may qualify for a
discount on a portion of the natural gas they use during the winter
heating season from November 1 to April 30. To be eligible for the
RES discount, residents must use natural gas as the principal
source for home heating and be certified by DOEE as eligible for
the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Once certified, eligible customers may participate in the RES
program for one heating season and must reapply annually.
For additional information about energy assistance, the budget
plan, energy efficiency, safety and more, visit
washingtongas.com.
About Washington Gas
Washington Gas Light Company is a regulated natural gas utility
providing safe, reliable natural gas service to more than 1.1
million customers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and
Virginia. A subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc. (WGL), the company has
been providing energy to residential, commercial and industrial
customers for 168 years.
About WGL
WGL (NYSE: WGL), headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a leading
source for clean, efficient and diverse energy solutions. With
activities and assets across the U.S., WGL consists of Washington
Gas, WGL Energy, WGL Midstream and Hampshire Gas. WGL provides
options for natural gas, electricity, green power and energy
services, including generation, storage, transportation,
distribution, supply and efficiency. Our calling as a company is to
make energy surprisingly easy for our employees, our community and
all our customers. Whether you are a homeowner or renter, small
business or multinational corporation, state and local or federal
agency, WGL is here to provide Energy Answers. Ask Us. For more
information, visit us at wgl.com.
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Washington GasNews Media:Bernie Tylor,
202-624-6778btylor@washgas.comorFinancial Community:Douglas
Bonawitz, 202-624-6129
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