Customer News

Notice to Virginia Customers: CARE Plan 

On March 26, 2010, the Virginia State Corporation Commission issued an Order approving a Conservation and Ratemaking Efficiency (CARE) Plan. The Commission approved a decoupling rate mechanism, the CARE Ratemaking Adjustment (CRA), and six residential energy efficiency programs. The decoupling rate mechanism will work in conjunction with the existing mechanism for a weather normalization adjustment to encourage consumer conservation without penalizing the Company's recovery of its fixed costs. The CRA will appear as a separate line item on residential customer bills beginning in the July 2010 billing cycle. The CARE Cost Adjustment (CCA), which will begin upon implementation of the Company's approved programs, allows for recovery of the residential energy efficiency programs available to residential customers. The CCA will be included as a charge to be added to the residential Distribution Charges.

Notice to Maryland Customers: Base rate change and montgomery county fuel energy tax surcharge

Effective for service rendered on and after June 1, 2010, base rates for Maryland firm residential and commercial and industrial customers have been reduced by $11.4 million to reflect new, lower depreciation rates as directed by the Maryland Public Service Commission in Maryland Case No. 9103. The changes in base rates are as follows:

Residential Firm Service - Rate Schedule Nos. 1 and 1A

Distribution Charges - rates per therm             Prior                      Current

First 45 therms or less per month                      $ 0.4206             $ 0.3853
Next 135 therms per month                                  $ 0.3188             $ 0.2835
Over 180 therms per month                                 $ 0.2537             $ 0.2188

Commercial and Industrial Firm Service - Rate Schedule Nos. 2 and 2A

System Charge                                                       Prior                      Current

Normal Weather Annual Usage
Less Than 3,000 Therms                                     $ 21.10                 $ 18.15

Changes in the Montgomery County Fuel Energy Tax Surcharge

On May 19, 2010, the Montgomery County Council adopted Resolution 16-1354, which increased rates applicable to fuel under the County's Fuel/Energy Tax levied under §52-14 of the County Code, effective on May 20, 2010, but reduces the rates effective July 1, 2010 (and will further reduce them effective July 1, 2012).

Resolution 16-1354 provides that effective May 20, 2010 through June 30, 2010, the rate for residential gas customers will increase from $0.0449864339 to $0.1906500000 per therm and the rate for non-residential gas customers will increase from $0.1192142417 to $0.2609000000 per therm. These rates must be adjusted for the Maryland Gross Receipts Tax (TG §8-403) and the PSC assessment (PUC Article, §2-110). Utilizing the current PSC Assessment factor of 0.001684 and the Gross Receipts Tax rate, the adjusted Montgomery County Fuel Tax factors will be $0.1948757 per therm for residential customers and $0.2666827 per therm for non-residential customers.

Effective July 1, 2010, the rate for residential gas customers will decrease from $0.1906500000 to $0.1149300000 per therm and the rate for non-residential gas customers will decrease from $0.2609000000 to $0.1902500000 per therm. Utilizing the new PSC Assessment factor of 0.001875 effective July 1, 2010, and the Gross Receipts Tax rate, the adjusted Montgomery County Fuel Tax factors will be $0.1175003 per therm for residential customers and $0.1945048 per therm for non-residential customers.

Pursuant to General Service Provision No. 1, Paragraph e. of its tariff, Washington Gas includes this tax on bills for service to customers in Montgomery County. The tax surcharge is shown as a separate line item on the bill and will be charged at the new rates noted above effective with bills rendered on and after May 20, 2010 and July 1, 2010, respectively.

Notice to Virginia Customers: Energy Efficient appliance rebates

Virginia customers will have two new ways to save money on the purchase of new, energy efficient appliances:

• Coming soon, Washington Gas will be offering rebates for the purchase of energy efficient natural gas appliances. These rebates are not yet available, but check back with washingtongas.com this summer to learn more about this program. 
  
• Beginning April 28, you can apply for rebates from the Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy. The program offers rebates of up to $300 on ENERGY STAR certified, high-efficiency appliances. Click the link above or visit http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/ARRA.shtml to learn more about this rebate program.

A Message to Our Customers

Notice – New Payment Address 

In an effort to provide improved customer service, Washington Gas’s payment mailing address will change effective June 1, 2009.  The new payment address is as follows:

Washington Gas
P.O. Box 37747
Philadelphia, PA 19101-5047

This address change is for Washington Gas payments only.  All other correspondence should be sent to our service center at 6801 Industrial Road, Springfield, VA 22151. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call 703-750-1000.  Please be aware that this change does not affect customers who make payments through the Automatic Payment Plan, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or washingtongas.com. However, if you make your payments via online banking, please update your records with the above address.

Customers may continue to make payments using our Automated Services Line, 703-750-7944 or in person at the following offices:

Washington Gas Main Office
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20080
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except holidays

Washington Gas Anacostia/Congress Heights Office
3101 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20032
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except holidays

Washington Gas will continue to accept payments via Drop Box: In Maryland, use the 24-hour drop box available in the parking lot of our Forestville office at 4000 Forestville Road. In Virginia, a 24-hour drop box is located in the parking lot of our Springfield location at 6801 Industrial Road. In the District of Columbia, customers will find drop boxes at our main office and Anacostia locations. Washington Gas accepts only
checks and money orders at drop boxes.

Western Union: You may pay your gas bill through the Quick Collect service at locations nationwide. Call Western Union at 1-800-325-6000 for the location nearest
you and for applicable Western Union service fees.

Frederick and Shenandoah customers may pay their bills in person or by drop box
at the following offices:

Frederick Gas
1800 N. Market Street
Frederick, MD 21701
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except holidays

Shenandoah Gas
350 Hillandale Lane
Winchester, VA 22602
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except holidays

washingtongas.com

Customer Service: 703-750-1000
Natural Gas Leaks/Emergencies: 911 or 703-750-1400

Frederick County, MD Customers
Customer Service: 301-662-2151
Natural Gas Leaks/Emergencies: 911 or 301-662-2151

Shenandoah, VA Customers
Customer Service: 540-869-1111
Natural Gas Leaks/Emergencies: 911 or 540-869-1111