Virginia Natural Gas today donated $130,000 from the company's EnergyShare program to The Salvation Army. EnergyShare is a fuel assistance program that provides low-income residents with one-time financial aid to pay a winter heating bill for wood, oil, kerosene, coal, natural gas or electricity.

EnergyShare is a program of last resort for those who have exhausted other forms of assistance or who do not qualify for such help such as the elderly, the ill and anyone who faces financial hardships from unemployment or family crisis. Funds are a culmination of year-long donations made by Virginia Natural Gas customers and a matching gift from the company itself.

"Virginia Natural Gas customers have generously added to their monthly account payments to make donations to EnergyShare in excess of $85,000," said Jodi Gidley, president, Virginia Natural Gas. "The company has matched a portion of those funds, which has enabled us to give a total of $130,000 to help families in need of heating assistance."

Virginia Natural Gas makes it easy to contribute to EnergyShare, and its customers can add an extra $1, $2, $5, $10 or $20 monthly to their gas bills. The funds are allocated directly to the program, and all contributions are tax-deductible.

Virginia Natural Gas EnergyShare funds are administered through The Salvation Army. Residents can apply in January, but they must make appointments by phone. Walk-ins are not accepted.

  South Hampton Roads: 543-8100
  Suffolk: 539-5201
  On the Peninsula: 838-4875
  vng.aglr.com/customer_care/energy_assistance.aspx

  About Virginia Natural Gas

Virginia Natural Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources , provides retail natural gas sales and distribution services to 264,000 customers in southeast Virginia. For more information, visit www.virginianaturalgas.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 North America. 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: Virginia Natural Gas