Elizabethtown Gas reminds consumers to act now ELIZABETHTOWN, N.J., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- With colder weather just around the corner, Elizabethtown Gas is encouraging those who may have trouble paying their heating bills to seek assistance. The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now taking applications. Elizabethtown Gas wants to remind its customers that energy assistance is now available to help low-income consumers with home heating costs. Consumers can also take steps now to reduce their heating costs this winter. "We want to spread the word and make our low- and fixed-income consumers aware that they can get help with their energy payments by taking advantage of assistance programs that are available," said Don Carter, vice president and general manager of Elizabethtown Gas. Consumers who are having trouble paying their energy bills, can call United Way by dialing 2-1-1 to get information about national, state and local energy assistance programs, including LIHEAP. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps families and individuals with their energy bills. New Jersey's program is administered by the Department of Community Affairs. Assistance is provided for heating assistance, medically necessary cooling assistance and emergency crisis assistance. LIHEAP began taking applications on Nov. 1, 2006 and will continue accepting them through March 31, 2007. "As we enter into the heating season, we want to also remind consumers that there are some simple conservation measures that can significantly reduce a family's energy costs," Carter continued. "By being proactive and weatherizing their homes, homeowners can maximize home heating efficiency and benefit from substantial savings on their energy bills." Heat that escapes homes through leaky windows and doors is a significant source of energy loss. Elizabethtown Gas estimates that these leaks require heating units to work 30 to 40 percent harder. Inexpensive caulk, spray-foam and weather stripping can keep cold air from blowing in. Leaky air ducts should be taped or sealed, and ducts in the attic or crawl space should be insulated. Also, since warm air rises, make sure the attic is adequately insulated. Consumers should schedule an inspection of their home heating system with a licensed contractor at least once a year. Homeowners can save as much as a couple hundred dollars by making sure heaters are running at peak efficiency. According to Carter, natural gas heating systems and appliances offer homeowners the highest total energy efficiency. "Today's high-efficiency natural gas furnaces feature technology that boosts efficiency to save money and improve comfort," he said. "A gas water heater delivers up to twice the hot water in the same amount of time as an electric water heater and a natural gas dryer can dry two loads of towels in the same time as one load in an electric dryer." Consumers who wish to make the switch to natural gas can take advantage of several money saving offers by visiting Rebates and Promotions on the Elizabethtown Gas Web site, http://www.elizabethtowngas.com/, or calling 1-800-611-0480. Those that install high-efficiency ENERGY STAR-rated equipment can qualify for additional WARMAdvantage rebates through New Jersey's Clean Energy Program. Additionally, federal tax credits are available to consumers and businesses that implement weatherization measures this year and purchase energy-efficient appliances and products. Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as insulation, energy-efficient windows, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in the home can receive a tax credit of up to $500. To be eligible for the tax credits, improvements must be installed in or on the taxpayer's principal residence between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2007. Editor's Note: Attached is a list of weatherization tips that may be used in conjunction with this release. About AGL Resources AGL Resources, an Atlanta-based energy services holding company, serves 2.2 million customers in six states through its utility subsidiaries -- Atlanta Gas Light, Elizabethtown Gas in New Jersey, Virginia Natural Gas, Florida City Gas, Chattanooga Gas, and Elkton Gas in Maryland. Ranked by Forbes as one of the 10 Best Managed Utilities and No. 250 in the Forbes Platinum 400 as well as No. 647 on the Fortune 1000 and No. 40 in the Fortune gas and electric utilities sector in 2006, AGL Resources reported revenue of $2.7 billion and net income of $193 million in 2005. The company also owns Houston-based Sequent Energy Management, an asset manager serving natural gas wholesale customers throughout the East and Midwest. As a 70 percent owner in the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural Gas brand. AGL Networks, the company's telecommunications subsidiary, owns and operates fiber optic networks in Atlanta and Phoenix. The company also owns and operates Pivotal Jefferson Island Storage & Hub, a high-deliverability natural gas storage facility near the Henry Hub in Louisiana. For more information, visit http://www.aglresources.com/. About Elizabethtown Gas Elizabethtown Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources, provides delivery service to more than 266,000 residential, business and industrial natural gas customers in New Jersey. In operation since 1855, the company serves parts of Union, Middlesex, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Morris and Mercer counties. For more information, visit http://www.elizabethtowngas.com/. Winter Weatherization Tips Making homes more energy-efficient is a way to save on your energy bills. The investment of an hour with a caulking gun and some extra insulation will pay off for you, as a homeowner. Some easy ways to save: 1. Add weatherstripping and caulking to doors and windows. As much as 30 to 40 percent of a home's energy load is attributed to outside air penetrating the house. - Add weatherstripping tapes that adhere directly to door or window frames for a tight seal. - Fit foam or rubber weatherstripping into the gaps around your doors or windows. - Install rubber or foam bottom seals under doors. - Add a door sweep to seal the gap at the bottom of a door from drafts. 2. Change disposable air filters in your furnace once a month. 3. Have your furnace inspected by a professional at least once a year. 4. Check for appropriate insulation around the pipes, walls, attic and floor. Choose the right R-value, which is a measure of insulating power. Higher R-values mean greater insulating power, which provides greater household energy savings and cost savings. Look for R-values on insulation packaging or talk to a Natural Gas Advantage professional. 5. Turn down the water heater's thermostat setting to about 120 degrees and switch to "vacation" setting when you'll be away for a few days. - When washing clothes, use warm or cold water -- not hot -- and rinse with cold water. - Install a low flow showerhead. Showers use less hot water than baths. 6. Use a programmable thermostat. Set at 68 degrees during the day, 65 degrees at night and 55 degrees when no one is home. 7. Close off unoccupied rooms and close heating vents. 8. Use exterior doors farthest from the thermostat. 9. Use the sunlight to warm rooms. Close drapes and blinds at night to retain heat. 10. Wear more layers of clothing and warmer, insulated clothing while indoors. 11. Put extra blankets or a down comforter on the bed. 12. Make sure that dishwashers, washing machines and dryers are fully loaded before running. 13. When it's time to replace appliances, choose those with high-energy efficiency ratings. 14. Install storm or thermal windows and doors. Energy Saving Tips Follow these tips to help reduce your energy use: Water Heater - Lower the temperature setting on your water heater to 120 degrees. Check your owner's manual if you have a dishwasher. Certain model dishwashers require a higher temperature to clean effectively. - Fix leaky faucets. - Install low volume showerheads and faucets if you have an older home. Newer homes are required to have these restricted flow devices as part of the building code. - Install a water heater insulation wrap around the sides of the water heater. Never put insulation on the top of the heater or near the bottom. - Use the proper water level setting on your clothes washer for the size load of clothes. This helps save on your water bill too. Clothes Dryer - Separate heavier clothes (towels, heavy cottons) from the lightweight fabrics (synthetics) for more efficient drying. - Only do full loads, but be sure not to overload the dryer. Select the proper setting and time for the type and size load. - Clean the lint filter before every load. Refer to your owner's manual. - Don't add wet clothes during the drying cycle. - Don't over dry clothes. Use the automatic moisture control if your dryer has one, or select the appropriate amount of time on the automatic timer. - Be sure the outside vent is free of any obstructions and the vent cover fully opens when the dryer is in use. Cooking - Cover pots and pans with lids when cooking. - Cook food at high heat to bring to temperature then reduce to complete cooking. - Adjust the flame to fit the bottom of the pot or pan. Turning up the flame beyond the bottom only wastes energy. - Keep burner surfaces clean. Heating - Add insulation to the attic. - Lower the thermostat when no one is home. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature each day. - Clean or replace all filters at least once per month. - Have the system inspected and maintained regularly. - Keep all heating and return vents free of all obstructions for proper air flow. For more information: Elizabethtown Gas: http://www.elizabethtowngas.com/ American Gas Association: http://www.aga.org/ National Association of Home Builders: http://www.nahb.org/ U.S. Department of Energy: http://www.eren.doe.gov/ DATASOURCE: AGL Resources Inc. CONTACT: Jack Holt of AGL Resources, +1-404-584-4255, or cell, +1-404-217-0284, or Web site: http://www.aglresources.com/ http://www.elizabethtowngas.com/ http://www.aga.org/ http://www.nahb.org/ http://www.eren.doe.gov/

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