Reflecting the rising wholesale price of natural gas, Elizabethtown Gas today filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to revise its gas commodity cost charge from $1.0339 per therm to $1.3561 per therm. This will increase the typical monthly bill (including the base charge) about 21.99 percent or about 32 dollars per month for a customer using 100 therms. The fuel portion of the customer's bill -- about 80 percent of the total bill -- is a direct pass-through charge without any mark-up from Elizabethtown Gas.

"Energy costs are rising across the board, including the cost of the natural gas we buy to deliver to our customers," said Don Carter, vice president, Elizabethtown Gas. "We purchase natural gas from the most reliable sources at the most economic price for our customers. Even though we have not increased our base rate since 2002, the high price of the gas itself is increasing costs for our customers."

The wholesale price of natural gas has risen 119 percent since Aug. 31, 2007, from $5.43 per dekatherm to $11.90 based on NYMEX prices. Several factors have combined to cause natural gas prices to rise. Demand for natural gas, particularly for use in generating electricity, is up sharply. This is driven by the environmental benefits of using natural gas and the significant increases in cost for comparable electric generating fuels such as coal or oil. Imports of liquefied natural gas are down and storage volumes have declined, all contributing to tight supplies.

"We encourage our customers to take steps to weatherize their homes now, which will not only help lower summer cooling costs, but also will prepare homes for the winter heating season when wholesale natural gas prices are forecast to rise even higher," said Carter, "In addition to conserving energy, residential customers should take advantage of all the federal, state and local programs available to help with energy costs. They should also enroll in an Elizabethtown Gas budget billing program to help make their energy costs more predictable."

Weatherization

All customers can take steps to prepare their homes and energy budgets for the summer/winter season.

New Jersey Comfort Partners is a state program administered by the BPU and managed by individual utilities. They provide free home energy analyses and education as well as weatherization measures for those who qualify. Consumers should call 888-773-8326 for more information.

Elizabethtown Gas offers the following weatherization tips for maximum cost savings:

   -- Add weather stripping and caulking to doors and windows to seal gaps.
      As much as 30 to 40 percent of a home's energy loss is attributed to
      outside air penetrating the house.
   -- Check for appropriate insulation around the pipes, in the walls, attic
      and under the 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.
   -- Set the water heater thermostat setting to about 120 degrees and
      switch to "vacation" setting when you'll be away for a few days.
   -- Use warm or cold water settings 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/cooling vents.
   -- Use exterior doors farthest from the thermostat.
   -- Use sunlight to warm rooms. Close drapes and blinds at night to retain
      heat or keep temperatures cool.
   -- 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 weatherization information, visit the following Web sites:
  Elizabethtown Gas: www.elizabethtowngas.com
  N.J. Department of Community Affairs www.state.nj.us
  American Gas Association: www.aga.org
  National Association of Home Builders: www.nahb.org
  U.S. Department of Energy: www.eere.energy.gov


  Budget billing

Elizabethtown Gas offers budget billing for its residential customers. Customers are billed the same amount every month for the next 12 consecutive months, subject to a mid-year review. This eliminates the "peaks and valleys" in natural gas bills caused by winter's cold weather and summer's heat.

To enroll, call the Elizabethtown Gas Customer Care Center at 1-800-242-5830.

Energy Assistance

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program designed to assist those in need. In order to be eligible, residents meeting the requirements must apply for the funds. Customers should contact their county LIHEAP office by calling 2-1-1 for more information.

Those who call 2-1-1 also may request a referral to one of the many other energy assistance programs that are available. Some of these programs are described below.

   -- Universal Service Fund (USF) is a low income energy assistance program
      from the New Jersey Societal Benefits fund. It provides monthly
      credits on heating bills if the New Jersey Department of Social
      Services determines the bill exceeds a certain percentage of household
      income for qualified applicants. Call 866-240-1347.
   -- USF Fresh Start is a state program offering automatic enrollment for
      first-time USF customers whose past-due amount is greater than $60.
      Participants who pay 100 percent of their current gas bills for 12
      months, over a 15 month period of time, will have their past-due
      balances erased. There is no need to apply if already enrolled in USF.
      USF enrollees eligible for the Fresh Start program will automatically
      receive a letter.
   -- The Lifeline Credit Program provides an annual grant of $112.50 per
      person for natural gas and electric bills, and is administered by the
      New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. This program is
      available to senior citizens 65 and older who meet income requirements
      and adults 18 and older who receive Social Security disability.  Call
      800-792-9745.
   -- New Jersey SHARES is a non-profit corporation organized to provide
      assistance to individuals and families living in New Jersey who do not
      qualify for low-income programs. The program is designed for residents
      in need of temporary help paying their energy bills. It provides a
      one-time grant, which is administered by local social service
      agencies. Call 866-792-4273.


  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 www.elizabethtowngas.com .

About AGL Resources

AGL Resources , an Atlanta-based energy services company, serves more than 2.3 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: AGL Resources