Columbia Gas of Virginia encourages use of Budget Payment Plan

Columbia Gas of Virginia is encouraging customers, especially those on a fixed income, to join the Budget Payment Plan during May. Joining is simple: customers can either pay the Budget Payment Plan amount on their May bill, enroll online or by phone.

The Budget Payment Plan provides convenience and smarter budgeting for customers. It allows customers to spread the cost of heating bills evenly over the year and takes the guesswork out of each month’s bill. By enrolling in the Budget Payment Plan, a customer’s bill will remain the same each month.

The Budget Payment Plan amount for a customer using an average of 71 Dekatherms (Dth) annually of natural gas is set at $72.00 per month for the 2016-2017 heating season. That reflects lower natural gas prices that customers have enjoyed over the past year and expected to continue into the future.

Each customer’s budget billing amount is different, and it may be higher or lower than the average. The amount is based on the historical natural gas usage patterns for their home, the projected cost of natural gas on the wholesale market and current rates for service and delivery.

It is important for customers to act now to enroll in the Budget Payment Plan. Waiting beyond May will raise the payment amount because there would be fewer months in the budget year over which to spread the costs of winter heating.

Columbia Gas reviews budget accounts in January to determine the impact of weather conditions and swings in the market price of natural gas. The company may adjust budget customers’ payment amounts, if necessary, to keep them on track with actual account balances.

To enroll in the Budget Payment Plan, customers can either:

• Pay the promoted amount shown on their May bill, plus any non-utility charges for security deposits, optional services or fuel fund contributions, instead of the current amount due.
• Enroll online at columbiagasva.com. Login or sign-up under “Manage Your Account” to enroll at any time.
• Call 1-800-543-8911 – Select option 2 from the main menu and follow the appropriate prompts for information on the budget plan.