·         Eligible individuals can receive up to $300 toward energy bill payments

·         Fan Care continues to help seniors during hot summer months

RICHMOND, Va. – The elderly and those in need will find relief from the summer heat through Dominion Virginia Power’s EnergyShare assistance program. Applications are being accepted for the year-round program, which helps eligible individuals pay their summer and winter energy bills.

Fan Care, which also is a component of EnergyShare, will continue to provide fans to eligible seniors.

To qualify for EnergyShare cooling assistance, an individual must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have received a disconnection notice (not required for those over 60 years of age);
• Have exhausted all other available sources of fuel assistance;
• Demonstrate a personal or family crisis, or
• Be income-eligible.

“EnergyShare has been helping those in need for 27 years,” said Paul D. Koonce, chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia Power. “The heat can have serious health effects on the elderly and those who struggle to stay cool in their homes.

EnergyShare helps to meet their needs. We are grateful to the customers, businesses and Dominion employees who donate to the program.”

More than $1.2 million helped nearly 6,000 families pay their cooling bills last year.

A qualified individual can receive a one-time maximum payment of up to $300. The program runs through Sept. 30. Local health and human service agencies administer the program. For more information, individuals should contact Dominion’s Customer Service Center at 1-888-667-3000.

Fan Care, now in its 19th year, also assists seniors in Virginia with cooling their homes. Dominion is again partnering with Wal-Mart and the Virginia Department for the Aging to provide free fans to qualified individuals who live in the company’s service area. Fan Care is funded by an annual grant of $50,000 from Dominion.

Local Area Agencies on Aging administer Fan Care by screening applicants and distributing the fans. To be eligible, an individual must:

• Live in Virginia;
• Be age 60 or older;
• Have a need for cooling assistance, and
• Meet income guidelines defined by the Area Agencies on Aging.

Those eligible can receive one fan per cooling season. The program will run through Sept. 30 or as long as funds are available. To inquire about eligibility, contact the Virginia Department for the Aging at 1-800-552-3402.

About EnergyShare
Dominion’s EnergyShare program has donated more than $34 million to families in need during its 27-year history and is supported by donations from Dominion customers, employees and EnergyShare partners, including businesses, churches and civic organizations. Local health and social service agencies in the company’s service areas distribute the funds. Because Dominion pays all administrative costs, 100 percent of the funds donated to EnergyShare go directly to help those requiring assistance.

Customers can contribute to EnergyShare by adding an extra $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $25 or $35 monthly to their Dominion Virginia Power bills or by including a separate check with their payments for any amount. All contributions are tax deductible and can be mailed to EnergyShare, P.O. Box 11186, Richmond, Va. 23230-1186.

About VDA
The Virginia Department for the Aging (VDA) is the designated State Unit on Aging for Virginia. The department's objective is to help Virginians find the information and services they need to lead healthy and independent lives as they grow older. Their mission is to foster the dignity, independence and security of older Virginians by promoting partnerships with families and communities. Visit the VDA Web site at http://www.vda.virginia.gov.

About Dominion
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a portfolio of more than 27,400 megawatts of generation. Dominion serves retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at http://www.dom.com.

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