ATMOS Energy Says Aid Available to Help Pay for Home Heating
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Robert Lesley 601.420.5021
Atmos Energy Says Aid Available to Help Pay for Home Heating
Gas company official encourages those who need help to call for assistance
JACKSON, Miss. (January 21, 2010)—With the recent extremely cold temperatures covering much of the United States, energy usage has spiked as customers try to stay warm. Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO) advises its customers that energy assistance funds are available for those who need help paying for home heating.
“Like last winter, this heating season will be challenging for some customers, and Atmos Energy is ready to help connect our customers in need with energy assistance agencies,” said David Gates, president of Atmos Energy’s Mississippi Division. “Some agencies have a new supply of federal or state funds to help people pay their utility bills.
“Fortunately, too, natural gas prices this year are lower than gas prices were last winter,” Gates said.
A recent survey by the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association found that the number of households receiving energy assistance funds reached record levels for the second year in a row. The survey showed 8.3 million American households received aid in 2009, up from 6.1 million the previous year.
Congress passed and President Obama signed legislation to provide $5.1 billion in funds for low-income Americans who need help paying energy bills. This latest funding for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) includes $4.5 billion in formula funds and $590 million in contingency funds.
This month, the federal department of Health and Human Services released more than $15 million in LIHEAP funds earmarked for Mississippi. These funds are in addition to more than $29.6 million in funds that were approved for the state last October. Congress has funded the LIHEAP program at record levels for the past two years because of need based on the economic downturn.
Atmos Energy customers can also contact their local Salvation Army office to see if they qualify for the company’s “Sharing the Warmth” program. This program is funded by donations from the company and its more than 260,000 customers in Mississippi.
Atmos Energy customers can find a local energy assistance agency on the company’s Web site at www.atmosenergy.com by clicking on Home Service and on the link for energy assistance agencies. Customers also can call the company’s customer contact center for assistance toll-free at 1-888-286-6700. Because of high winter-call volumes, customers are encouraged to call during the afternoon, evening or the weekend.
“Most important, customers who need help should contact one of these energy assistance agencies or call us early, rather than wait until the last minute, if they are having trouble paying their bills,” said Jeff Hardgrave, Atmos Energy’s vice president of customer service. “Often a payment problem can be resolved easily if a customer calls us early.”
Last winter, Atmos Energy referred more than 55,000 customers to community energy assistance agencies, an increase of 48 percent from the previous winter. Atmos Energy customers received more than $9 million in energy assistance funds last winter.
Atmos Energy, its customers and employees donated more than $1.2 million in 2009 to help energy assistance agencies through the company’s Sharing the Warmth program. The funds were distributed to assistance agencies in the givers’ local areas.
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural-gas-only distributor, serving more than 3 million natural gas distribution customers in more than 1,600 communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy also provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast and manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Atmos Energy is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com.
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Editors note: attached to this news release is a PDF of locations within the Atmos Energy service territory where customers can receive utility bill assistance. The list does not include locations not served by Atmos Energy.