Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Residents in four Summit County communities must make natural gas decision by March 9

COLUMBUS, Ohio, February 23, 2004 – The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), the residential utility advocate, alerts Dominion East Ohio’s residential customers who live in the Village of Silver Lake and the cities of Green, Munroe Falls and Stow of a natural gas aggregation decision that must be made by March 9. Residents should have received information in the mail from their local governments about how to join, remain in or withdraw from the community buying groups. Each mailing also provides details about the rate being offered by Vectren Source, the company was chosen by government officials to supply natural gas as part their aggregation programs.

What is an opt-out aggregation program?

Aggregation is the process of joining consumers together as a group to buy natural gas. In Ohio, natural gas aggregation programs are required to give customers an opportunity to “opt out,” or withdraw from the program at no cost at least once every two years.

How will residents be affected?

Residents in these communities who are eligible to participate will be automatically included in the programs and served by Vectren Source unless they opt out by March 9. After the initial opt out period, consumers who are participating in the programs will receive a letter from Dominion notifying them of the name of their new supplier. Consumers will have seven days from the postmark date on this letter to withdraw from their community’s aggregation program at no cost, after which time a $25 fee will be charged.

Residents who opt out of the aggregated groups will continue to purchase their natural gas from Dominion. Consumers who have chosen a supplier on their own are not included in the buying pools and should not receive information about the aggregation programs. Whether residents participate in the buying groups or not, Dominion will continue to deliver natural gas to their homes, repair natural gas lines and send customers their monthly bill.

What should consumers do now?

The OCC is offering the following tips for residents:

Carefully read the information that was mailed to you from your local government, including the rate and terms and conditions of the agreement with Vectren Source. Residents can contact Vectren Source toll free at 1-866-200-5567 (for Munroe Falls and Silver Lake), 1-866-200-5419 (City of Green) or 1-866-200-5634 (City of Stow) for more information.
If you do not wish to be included in your community’s buying pool, you must mail back the opt-out card, postmarked by March 9.
To participate in your community’s buying pool, you do not need to do anything. You will be switched automatically to Vectren Source.
Keep all information sent by your local government and Vectren Source for future reference.
If you have misplaced or have not received the opt-out notice and do not wish to participate in your community’s buying pool, call Vectren Source to ask how to remove yourself from the group.
Use the online interactive natural gas calculator for Dominion at www.pickocc.org to determine if the offer best meets your needs.

Residential consumers can contact the OCC toll free at 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) or at www.pickocc.org to request more information about the aggregation process or energy choice programs.

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC website at www.pickocc.org.