RICHMOND, Va., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Virginia Power's expanded EnergyShare program has already helped 10,740 families and individuals with bill payment assistance and weatherized 1,600 homes across Virginia in less than one year. Additional details and successes of the program are now available in Dominion's first EnergyShare Annual Report.

"We are thrilled to report that our expanded EnergyShare program is succeeding in its mission to provide more energy assistance and sustainable energy savings to vulnerable individuals across Virginia," said Robert M. Blue, president of Dominion Virginia Power. "Thanks to our dedicated team and the partnerships they have forged with many state agencies and non-profits, we are on track to double our participation rate and help more Virginians reduce their energy costs and stay comfortably in their homes."

While EnergyShare has provided energy assistance to low-income and elderly Virginians since 1982, the program was expanded in funding and scope on Sept. 1, 2015, in accordance with Senate Bill 1349 and an executive directive by Gov. McAuliffe.

Dominion Virginia Power pledged $57 million through 2019 to boost financial aid and add weatherization services and educational outreach in order to help more qualifying customers, including people living with disabilities and military veterans facing financial hardships.

Highlights from the last year include:

• Partnerships with more than 140 agencies and weatherization providers
• More than 500 veterans and 940 individuals living with disabilities received assistance
• 140 weatherization and program outreach events
• 1,400 multi-family and 200 single-family residents were weatherized, with an annual savings between 5-15%

Since its inception in 1982, Dominion Virginia Power and its customers, employees, retirees and business partners have contributed more than $67 million and have helped more than 760,000 individuals and families.

EnergyShare is a program of last resort to help eligible residents facing financial hardship pay heating or cooling bills when all other forms of assistance have been exhausted. Every cent donated by customers, employees or others goes directly to helping those in need.

Virginia residents can call 2-1-1 for EnergyShare assistance or referrals to health and human services resources. For more information about weatherization, call 1-888-366-8280. For details on donating or applying for EnergyShare, visit www.dom.com/EnergyShare.

About Dominion Virginia Power
Dominion Virginia Power is a subsidiary of Dominion (NYSE: D), one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 25,700 megawatts of generation, 12,200 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,500 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 933 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves more than 5 million utility and retail energy customers in 14 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com/.

SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power