Monday’s smile: Columbia Gas monthly bills to drop on average 8.8 percent starting March 2

Columbia Gas of Virginia customers will notice their monthly bills decrease 8.8% compared to their current level beginning Monday, March 2. The typical monthly residential customer bill will be a seasonal monthly amount of $115.76 compared to the current level of $126.92. This comparison is based on a 100 Ccf seasonal usage level.

Columbia’s gas costs are typically adjusted on a quarterly basis to reflect the price the company pays for natural gas, which by law is passed on dollar for dollar to customers without markup or profit. The other components of the monthly gas bill include charges for the service and delivery of natural gas and state and local taxes.

A Ccf is the measurement used for natural gas usage and is the equivalent of 100 cubic feet. Individual monthly bills may be higher due to the increased demand for heating which varies by customer.

Carl Levander, president of Columbia Gas of Virginia, was quoted in a news release as saying, “At today’s prices natural gas continues to provide value for our customers compared to other energy choices. The trend of abundant and reliable domestic
supplies of natural gas directly benefit our customers through lower monthly energy costs.”

Levander noted that natural gas is also a fundamental component in the manufacturing process for everyday items such as cell phones, tires, paper products, building materials, food products and cars.

Columbia Gas encourages customers to enroll in the Budget Payment Plan and to take advantage of WarmWise which provides cash rebates for insulation,  qualified appliances and other energy efficiency savings. In addition,  Columbia Gas provides bill payment assistance through HeatShare which is funded by company shareholders and customers. To learn more go to http://www.columbiagasva.com or call us at 1.800.543.8911.

About Columbia Gas of Virginia
    Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers safe, reliable and clean natural
gas to customers in portions of Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, suburban
Richmond, Central Virginia, and the Shenandoah Valley, the Lynchburg region
and parts of Western Virginia.  With headquarters in Chesterfield County,
the company is one of the 7 energy distribution companies of NiSource Inc.
(NYSE:  NI)  serving 3.8 million natural gas and electric customers. Always
call   811   before   you   dig   and   Dig   with CARE.  Learn more at
http://www.ColumbiaGasVa.com.

                        ####