The parent company of Columbia Gas of Virginia, NiSource (NYSE:NI) has released its 2015 Sustainability Report. The report highlights its sustainable approach to the company’s core values of safety, reliability, community involvement and customer experience. It also provides readers with a glimpse into the company’s continued sustainability efforts, a key component to its strategic direction.
“Building a sustainable future and fostering an inclusive environment is key to the long-term success of Columbia Gas of Virginia,” said Brent Archer, President of Columbia Gas of Virginia. “We’re pleased to join the NiSource companies in advancing our sustainability efforts to make a positive impact — not only on the environment –but in the communities we serve as well.”
The full report is available at www.NiSource.com/Sustainability. A few Columbia Gas of Virginia highlights, include:
Industry-leading safety performance – Safety is embedded in the culture at NiSource and Columbia Gas of Virginia. With a fundamental desire to keep employees and customers safe, Columbia Gas of Virginia invests in public awareness programs, which help educate the public on calling 811 to avoid damage to underground systems in addition to training emergency responders on natural gas safety to ensure they know how to respond if underground facilities are damaged. Last year, Columbia Gas of Virginia invested more than $300,000 in public awareness efforts to enhance communities’ safety and more than $8 million assessing and minimizing risk factors on its system
Top-tier customer satisfaction – New technologies and improved processes were introduced in 2015 to make it easier for customers to do business with each NiSource company. This includes improved appointment windows, website enhancements and new bill layout. Plus, Columbia Gas of Virginia helped over 7,000 customers save nearly $280,000 through WarmWise, the company’s energy efficiency and conservation program, in 2015. And J.D. Power ranked Columbia Gas of Virginia in the top 20 nationally in all factors measured in the 2015 Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Survey which resulted in the company being recognized for having one of the biggest increases in overall satisfaction in the country.
Investments that systematically and efficiently deliver service integrity – With more than $30 million invested in modernizing its natural gas distribution system in 2015, Columbia Gas of Virginia continues to enhance safety, reliability and customer service while reducing greenhouse emissions. These investments translate into a safer, more reliable energy system. Last year, Columbia Gas of Virginia eliminated the final known segment of cast iron pipe from the company’s more than 5,000 mile underground natural gas pipeline infrastructure system. During the past five years, the company has eliminated more than 105 miles of aging underground infrastructure which has improved public safety and system integrity.
Recognized among the best places to work by all in our communities – Columbia Gas of Virginia is focused on training, development, employee engagement, inclusion and diversity as it continues to work toward being recognized as a best place to work in each community. Recently, the company was certified as a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) employer and was recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in the Richmond Area in the midsize company category as part of the Richmond Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management’s Sterling Workplace Award program.
About Columbia Gas of Virginia
Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers safe, reliable and clean natural gas to over 257,000 customers in portions of Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, suburban Richmond, Central Virginia, and the Shenandoah Valley, the Lynchburg region and parts of Western Virginia. NiSource (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. More information about Columbia Gas of Virginia and NiSource is available at www.ColumbiaGasVa.com and www.nisource.com. Always call 811 before you dig and Dig with CARE.
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