Chattanooga Gas is hosting a town hall meeting with several social service agencies to assist residents who need help paying their heating bills this winter. The town hall meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. in the conference room of the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults offices at 1800 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga. Information about local assistance programs will be available at the meeting.

The Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program assisting customers who need help paying their natural gas bills. Residents who cannot attend the meeting, but would like more information, should contact their county LIHEAP office by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-510-3102.

"Chattanooga Gas is getting the word out about the LIHEAP program," said Steve Lindsey, vice president and general manager, Chattanooga Gas. "This federal program is designed to assist those in need. Consumers need to know they can get help with their energy payments by completing the application."

Chattanooga Gas has donated a total of $50,000 for heating assistance distributed between the Chattanooga Human Services Department and the Cleveland Human Services Department in Tennessee.

Weatherization

In addition to seeking assistance with heating bills this winter, there are other steps residents can take to prepare their homes for the winter heating season. Chattanooga Gas offers the following advice for maximum cost savings, safety and comfort:

  -- Add weather stripping and caulking to doors and windows to seal gaps.
     As much as 30 to 40 percent of a home's energy load is attributed to
     outside air penetrating the house.
  -- 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.
  -- Turn down the water heater's thermostat setting to about 120 degrees
     and switch to "vacation" setting when the house will be unoccupied.
  -- Use warm or cold water setting when washing clothes and rinse with cold
     water.
  -- Separate heavier clothes (towels, heavy cottons) from the lightweight
     fabrics (synthetics) for more efficient drying.
  -- Install a low flow showerhead. Showers use less hot water than baths.
  -- Close off unoccupied rooms and close heating vents.
  -- Use exterior doors farthest from the thermostat.
  -- Use the sunlight to warm rooms. Close drapes and blinds at night to
     retain heat.
  -- Fully load dishwashers, washing machines and dryers before running.
  -- Install storm or thermal windows and doors.
  -- 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.

  For more information:
  Chattanooga Gas: www.chattanoogagas.com
  American Gas Association: www.aga.org
  National Association of Home Builders: www.nahb.org
  U.S. Department of Energy: www.eere.energy.gov

  About Chattanooga Gas

Chattanooga Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources , provides retail natural gas sales and transportation services to approximately 61,000 customers in Hamilton and Bradley counties in southeast Tennessee. The Chattanooga Gas service area includes the communities of Chattanooga, Cleveland, Red Bank, East Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain. For more information, please see www.chattanoogagas.com.

About AGL Resources

AGL Resources , an Atlanta-based energy services company, serves more than 2.2 million customers in six states. The company also owns Houston-based Sequent Energy Management, an asset manager serving natural gas wholesale customers throughout the nation. As a 70 percent owner in the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural Gas brand. The company also owns and operates Jefferson Island Storage & Hub, a high-deliverability natural gas storage facility near the Henry Hub in Louisiana. For more information, visit www.aglresources.com.

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SOURCE: AGL Resources