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Virginia Natural Gas Urges Customers to Prepare Their Homes and Wallets for Winter

Posted on: Wednesday, 10 October 2007, 00:00 CDT

NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- While the warm temperatures of the Indian summer linger, now is the time for Virginia residents to get their home, business and wallet ready for the winter heating season. Virginia Natural Gas offers the following advice for maximum cost savings, safety and comfort:

Energy assistance is currently available

Virginia Natural Gas encourages those who may have trouble paying their energy bills to seek assistance through three programs that are available to eligible applicants:

-- LIHEAP - The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program application period begins today, October 9, 2007 and closes on November 9, 2007. Virginians who are having trouble paying their energy bills can apply through their city or county department of social services. -- EnergyShare - Virginia Natural Gas partners with its customers and the Salvation Army to offer this alternative assistance program. Virginia Natural Gas customers can donate through their energy bill and the company will match these donations. Residents can call the Salvation Army after January 2, 2008 at the phone numbers listed below to make an appointment and find out if they qualify for the EnergyShare program. -- South Hampton Roads - 757-543-8100. Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - noon and 1-3 p.m. -- Suffolk - 757-539-5201. Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4 p.m. -- On the Peninsula - 757-838-4875. Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4:30 p.m. -- Community-based heating assistance - The organizations below provide heating assistance and home winterization services for those who qualify: -- Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project- 757-858-1360 (South Hampton Roads) -- Office of Human Affairs - 757-244-6121 (On the Peninsula) Think Safety First. Always a Good Reminder When the Pilot Light Goes On.

Virginia Natural Gas urges seasonal customers to prepare for winter now by calling today to have their gas service turned on. When the pilot light goes on, there are a few simple and proactive steps everyone can take to easily prepare their natural gas system for the upcoming winter season.

Natural gas is a clean, colorless and odorless fuel. For safety reasons a chemical odorant sometimes described as a "rotten egg" smell, is added, making the presence of gas detectable.

If residents ever smell this odor: -- Alert others and leave the area immediately. Do not try to locate the source of the smell. -- Open doors and windows when leaving the home or business. -- Do not operate electric lights, appliances or other equipment such as telephones, cell phones or flashlights. -- Go to a phone away from the area and call your gas company or call 9-1-1.

In addition to the smell, residents can also look and listen for signs that natural gas is escaping from their appliances. For example, blowing dirt or continued bubbling of standing water may be an indicator that natural gas is escaping from an appliance. Listening for a hissing sound near a natural gas appliance or line may also indicate that natural gas is escaping and the appliance should be serviced by a professional contractor.

Conserve Energy and Reduce Your Natural Gas Bill with a Few Simple Steps -- Add weather stripping and caulking to doors and windows to seal gaps. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, reducing air leaks can cut as much as 10% from an average household's monthly energy bill. -- Check for appropriate insulation around the pipes, walls, attic, floors and water heater. Never put insulation on the top of the heater or near the bottom. -- Install a low flow showerhead. Showers use less hot water than baths. For more information: Virginia Natural Gas: http://www.virginianaturalgas.com/ American Gas Association: http://www.aga.org/ National Association of Home Builders: http://www.nahb.org/ U.S. Department of Energy: http://www.eren.doe.gov/ About AGL Resources

AGL Resources , an Atlanta-based energy services company, serves more than 2.2 million customers in six states. The company also owns Houston-based Sequent Energy Management, an asset manager serving natural gas wholesale customers throughout the nation. As a 70 percent owner in the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural Gas brand. The company also owns and operates Jefferson Island Storage & Hub, a high-deliverability natural gas storage facility near the Henry Hub in Louisiana. For more information, visit http://www.aglresources.com/.

About Virginia Natural Gas

Virginia Natural Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources , provides retail natural gas sales and distribution services to 264,000 customers in southeast Virginia. For more information, visit http://www.virginianaturalgas.com/.

Virginia Natural Gas

CONTACT: Patrice Harris, Public Relations Specialist of AGL Resources,for Virginia Natural Gas, +1-757-616-7533, or cell, +1-757-705-2447, or24-Hour Media line, +1-866-757-6646

Web site: http://www.virginianaturalgas.com/http://www.aga.org/http://www.nahb.org/http://www.eren.doe.gov/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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