Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Consumers' Counsel urges Vectren customers to voice their opinion on proposed energy efficiency program at public hearings

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 20, 2006 - The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, urges customers of Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio to attend a local public hearing to voice their opinion about the company's proposal to implement an energy efficiency program that will help consumers lower their natural gas consumption and reduce their monthly bill.

The local hearing will be held on Monday, March 27 at 6:30 p.m., at the Dayton Municipal Building, 101 W. Third Street, 2nd floor. The hearing will be presided over by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

In Vectren's 2005 filing at the PUCO, the company proposed implementing an energy efficiency program that provides rebates to customers who purchase energy efficient appliances, such as furnaces and water heaters. Additionally, Vectren plans to launch an education campaign to promote the program. Costs associated with the program would be collected from customers through a method that also would allow Vectren to recover lost revenues associated with the distribution costs - which represents only 20 percent of the total bill - as a result of customers reducing their natural gas consumption. However, the program overall, as proposed by Vectren, estimates that the average customer who engages in energy efficiency practices would achieve approximately $44 in savings per year even after a slight increase of around $1 per month that would be added on all customer's natural gas bills.

During the past year and a half, the OCC has been advocating for the development and implementation of utility sponsored energy efficiency programs. Energy efficiency is a very important tool to lower the amount of natural gas that is being used. As more people in Ohio and nationally begin to reduce their consumption, the price of natural gas will begin to fall as well. "The OCC supports energy efficiency programs that can help consumers manage their usage and lower monthly bills," said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Consumers' Counsel. "However, Vectren's proposal has placed too much funding on education and not enough on the actual programs from which consumers would benefit."

Additionally, the OCC filed testimony at the PUCO in the case today. The OCC provided information on the benefits of utility sponsored energy efficiency programs and the need for a stakeholder group to oversee the financial aspects of the program to ensure funding is used to benefit consumers.

Consumers who are unable to attend the public hearing may submit their opinions to the PUCO by writing: Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Docketing Division, RE: Case # 05-1444-GAUNC, 180 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Comments also may be submitted through the PUCO website at www.PUCO.state.oh.us.

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC website at www.pickocc.org.