RICHMOND, Va. - EnergyShare, Dominion's heating assistance
program, is still seeking donations to help families in need pay their winter
heating bills. The need continues to grow and the funds to help them must keep
pace.
"This winter has been a challenging one and there are
many families who are faced with high heating bills they cannot afford to pay,"
said Jay L. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia
Power. "We know that those who can help will respond and contribute as
they always have."
Contributions during the 2002-03 EnergyShare season totaled
more than $1.1 million and helped 5,536 families, including nearly 2,230 children,
861 senior citizens and 1,507 disabled people.
The program is supported by donations from Dominion customers
and employees and EnergyShare partners such as businesses, churches and civic
or other organizations. Local health and social service agencies in the company's
service area distribute EnergyShare funds.
Customers can contribute to EnergyShare easily by adding an
extra $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $25 or $35 to their monthly Dominion Virginia Power
bills. Contributions also can be mailed to EnergyShare, P.O. Box 12083, Richmond,
Va. 23241-0083. All contributions are tax deductible.
To qualify for EnergyShare assistance, a person must live
in the Dominion Virginia Power service area and be in danger of losing an important
source of heat. A recipient must have a household income no higher than one-half
of the local median income level, be unemployed or demonstrate a personal or
family crisis. To ensure the widest possible distribution of EnergyShare assistance,
persons eligible can receive only one payment of up to $500 per heating season.
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy
with an energy portfolio of more than 24,000 megawatts of generation. Dominion
also serves 5.3 million retail energy customers in nine states. For more information
about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.
