Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Contact: Marty Berkowitz
(614) 387-2962

Consumers’ Counsel advises Columbia Gas natural gas customers of emergency bill payment assistance fund

COLUMBUS, Ohio – March 10, 2009 – The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, advises natural gas customers of Columbia Gas of Ohio that a $2.1 million emergency assistance fund has been established by the utility to help customers who are having difficulty paying their heating bills but do not qualify because of income requirements for existing energy assistance programs.

The funding became available after the OCC negotiated an agreement with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and Columbia Gas to make refunds from an interstate supplier available to households earning between 175 and 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines ($42,400 annually for a family of four). Families earning less than 175 percent of the federal guidelines are eligible to apply for existing assistance programs such as the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) and Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

The emergency assistance fund will be administered by local community action agencies that distribute HEAP funds. Columbia Gas customers who believe they are eligible for this assistance should contact their local community action agency directly to apply.

Columbia Gas also offers assistance to customers below the 175 percent federal poverty threshold through its rate case fuel fund, which was established as a result of an agreement among the OCC, the PUCO, the utility and other parties Oct. 24, 2008, in Columbia’s distribution rate case. This money will be available to customers who have exhausted all other assistance programs (such as HEAP) for the next five winter heating seasons through 2013. Local community agencies will also determine eligibility and distribute aid.

Customers with questions about either source of bill payment assistance, availability of other payment plans, or with other inquiries about their bills or their utility service, may contact the OCC toll free at 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) or visit the OCC Web site at www.pickocc.org.

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 Web site at www.pickocc.org.