December 20, 2005

RICHMOND, Va. – EnergyShare, Dominion’s heating assistance program to help individuals and families in need stay warm this winter, will begin accepting applications soon. Most of the social service agencies that administer the program are taking applications now and Salvation Army agencies begin accepting applications Tuesday, Jan. 3.

This year, in light of record-high heating costs and in response to Gov. Mark Warner’s call for all Virginians to pitch in and assist more families, Dominion has increased its contribution to EnergyShare by $1 million.

The program is designed to help those in need heat their homes after all other assistance has been exhausted. Payments go directly to the energy vendor on behalf of the recipient. Every dollar contributed to this fund goes to pay heating bills regardless of the type of heat used — oil, coal, wood, kerosene, natural gas or electricity. Persons should call toll-free 1-888-667-3000 for the nearest screening agency.

To qualify for EnergyShare assistance, a person must live in Dominion’s 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, eligible persons can receive only one payment of up to $500 per heating season.

EnergyShare donations totaled almost $1.1 million last winter and helped more than 5,000 families. The program has raised more than $20 million in its 23-year history.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy with an energy portfolio of about 28,100 megawatts of generation. Dominion also serves retail energy customers in nine states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

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