Atlanta Gas Light Reminds Consumers of Energy Assistance Availability
January 17 2007 - 2:20PM
PR Newswire (US)
ATLANTA, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest cold snap has Georgians
reaching for their thermostats. With more cold weather expected,
Atlanta Gas Light is reminding low- and fixed-income customers that
energy assistance is available. "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 Suzanne Sitherwood, president of
Atlanta Gas Light. "Many times people don't know where to turn for
help, but assistance is available from a variety of sources, such
as the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the United Way and
the Salvation Army." The Georgia Department of Human Resources
(DHR) will provide financial assistance with heating bills for the
low-income, elderly and disabled. DHR's Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has received $17.9 million in federal
funds to help applicants in all three categories with heating
bills. The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) also has
allocated $3 million to supplement the federal dollars. To qualify,
energy assistance applicants must have a yearly household income
less than or equal to 150 percent of the federal poverty
guidelines, which are published each year by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services. Payments are to be made directly to the
home energy supplier for natural gas, electricity, propane, wood,
coal or kerosene. Qualifying applicants will receive payments of
either $174 or $220. Funds allocated by the PSC can be used only
for natural gas bills. Two additional programs, the Heating Energy
Assistance Team (HEAT Inc.) and Project SHARE, are funded in part
by private donations. Established in 1983 by Atlanta Gas Light,
HEAT Inc. is funded by corporate and private donations. HEAT
provides energy assistance to individuals who qualify for state
assistance. Project SHARE, a program of The Salvation Army provides
year-round emergency assistance to Georgians who need help with
basic necessities -- housing, food, medical care and utility
services. The program assists the elderly as well as individuals
who are disabled, unemployed, sick or who are experiencing
financial hardship. "We also want to remind consumers that there
are some simple conservation measures that can significantly reduce
a family's energy costs," Sitherwood continued. "By 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. Atlanta Gas Light 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 Sitherwood, 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," she 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 the rebates and promotions section of the
Atlanta Gas Light Web site, http://www.atlantagaslight.com/.
Additionally, federal tax credits are available to consumers and
businesses that implement weatherization measures this year and
purchase energy-efficient appliances and products. "We want to make
certain that all our customers stay warm this winter," Sitherwood
said. "Customers who are struggling to pay their utility bills are
encouraged to take steps to reduce their energy costs and learn how
to get the assistance they need." For more information on LIHEAP,
contact the Georgia Department of Human Resources at 404-657-3426
in metro Atlanta and 1-800-869-1150 outside Atlanta or visit
http://www.state.ga.us/departments/dhr/energy.html. Contact
Georgia's Heating Energy Assistance Team (HEAT Inc.) at
678-406-0212. For more information on Project SHARE, contact the
Salvation Army at 404-873-3101 in metro Atlanta and 1-800-257-4273
outside Atlanta or http://www.salvationarmy-georgia.org/. Families
and individuals looking for assistance with their heating costs
also can dial 2-1-1, a service of United Way, for referral to an
assistance program. 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 * 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: Atlanta Gas Light:
http://www.atlantagaslight.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/ 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 Atlanta Gas Light Atlanta Gas
Light, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources, provides
delivery service to more than 1.5 million customers in Georgia. In
operation since 1856, the company is one of the oldest corporations
in the state. For more information, visit
http://www.atlantagaslight.com/. CONTACT: AGL Resources Jack Holt,
404-584-4255 Cell: 404-217-0284 DATASOURCE: AGL Resources CONTACT:
Jack Holt of AGL Resources, +1-404-584-4255, or Cell:
+1-404-217-0284, Web site: http://www.aglresources.com/
http://www.atlantagaslight.com/ http://www.aga.org/
http://www.nahb.org/ http://www.eren.doe.gov/
http://www.state.ga.us/departments/dhr/energy.html
http://www.salvationarmy-georgia.org/
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