Slightly lower energy bills predicted

Friday, October 24, 2014

Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana predicts that customers could see slightly lower bills than last winter, assuming normal winter weather this coming season.

Vectren projects that its residential customers' winter natural gas bill amounts will be about the same or slightly less than last winter (when assuming weather had been normal), for the five-month heating season of November through March.

"While Vectren has always used normal weather to project year-over-year winter bill comparisons, the bitter temperatures experienced in the winter months of last year were anything but normal, nearly 20 percent colder than normal in fact," Mike Roeder, president of Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana, said.

This year, based upon expected natural gas commodity costs and normal winter weather, Vectren said customers can expect to pay around $550 over the five-month heating season of November through March based on the average household consumption of approximately 645 therms.

By comparison, last year's actual average bill for the five-month period, spurred by arctic temperatures, was around $615 for the average customer with usage coming in at 740 therms.

Vectren has in place a number of tools to help customers manage their energy bills.

-- Energy efficiency resources -- Vectren offers appliance rebates and energy-saving tools to help customers lower natural gas bills. All Indiana residential and small commercial natural gas customers are eligible. Visit Vectren.com/conservation or call 1-866-240-8476 for a list of rebates, qualifying appliances and energy-efficiency tips.

-- Budget Bill: Under this billing plan, a customer's estimated costs for a year of gas service are spread out in equal monthly bill amounts. This leveling of monthly bills reduces the need to pay the full amount in the winter and spreads some of those higher charges into non-heating months. Amounts are adjusted each summer for actual costs, or amount due rolls into the next Budget Bill payment for the ensuing 12-month period. Customers can enroll for free at www.vectren.com or by calling 1-800-227-1376.

-- Energy Assistance Program (EAP): State and federal utility assistance dollars are available for income-eligible customers. Those falling within 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines should visit their local community action agency to sign up for EAP. To apply for EAP, customers should call 1-800-872-0371 to locate the nearest community action agency.

-- Universal Service Program (USP): All eligible natural gas heating customers who apply and qualify for EAP will automatically be enrolled in the Universal Service Program (USP), which provides additional gas bill reductions that range from 15 to 32 percent of the total bill (not including EAP benefits) in the months of December through May.

-- Share the Warmth: Those wanting to help the less fortunate with their energy bills can contribute to Share the Warmth, a nonprofit organization assisting income-eligible customers with home weatherization services. Each year, Vectren matches all public donations, up to an annual total of $200,000. Donations may be tax-deductible and can be sent to Share the Warmth, P.O. Box 931, Evansville, IN 47706-0931 or visit www.sharethewarmthinc.com.

"Customers in need of financial assistance are encouraged to reach out to us before they get behind on payments, as there are several options to help customers manage costs" Roeder said. "Furthermore, customers should contact their local community action agency today and apply for financial and/or home weatherization assistance."

Vectren North delivers natural gas to approximately 570,000 natural gas customers in Putnam and 47 other Hoosier counties.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: