Washington Gas Expects Winter Heating Bills to Decrease; Encourages Customers to Prepare for Heating Season

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Washington Gas announced today that its customers could expect their
upcoming winter heating bills to be 13-20 percent lower than those from
last year’s winter heating season when temperatures were significantly
colder than normal. Prices may vary if colder-than-expected temperatures
result in an increased demand for natural gas.

“We have a long-standing commitment to deliver safe, reliable and
affordable natural gas service to our customers,” said Adrian Chapman,
president and chief operating officer of Washington Gas. “By taking
steps to effectively manage assets throughout the year, we have an ample
natural gas supply on-hand and are well prepared to meet the energy
needs of our customers this winter.”

Gas supply costs are calculated using the amount of natural gas consumed
stated in “therms” on customer bills and the cost of delivering the gas.
The cost of gas consumed, which made up approximately 52 percent of the
average customer’s annual heating bill last year, appears on the
customer’s bill as the Purchased Gas Charge (PGC). The cost of
delivering the gas appears as the distribution charge. As a regulated
utility, Washington Gas charges customers the same price that the
company pays for the gas supply. The rest of a customer’s bill, the
system charge, is a fixed monthly amount that covers certain costs of
providing natural gas service, such as maintenance and repair of
customer lines. Taxes or other fees levied by state and local
governments are also included as separate line items on the bill.

As colder weather approaches, Washington Gas continues to encourage
customers to prepare their homes for the winter heating season. Take
simple steps now to help manage energy costs better and stay safe, warm
and energy-smart when temperatures start to drop.

• Change or clean furnace/air filters once a month and schedule an
  annual furnace or boiler check-up with a licensed professional.
• Caulk and weather strip around doors and windows.
• Install rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates.
• Check dampers in unused fireplaces and close them if they are open.
• Turn the water heater down to warm or low settings, never more than
  120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Wash full loads of laundry in cold water, using specially formulated
  cold-water detergents.
• Consider installing new, high-efficiency appliances and look for the ENERGY
  STAR label for efficiency ratings.
• Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat, which automatically
  lowers the temperature setting at night and increases the setting
  during the day.

Important winter safety tip: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless,
odorless, toxic gas, created when fossil fuels are not burned
completely. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends
putting CO detectors outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area
of your home. It also recommends installing smoke alarms on each level
of your house and inside every bedroom. For both types of devices, check
batteries monthly and replace them at least twice a year.

Washington Gas offers several payment plans and services to help you
manage your time and energy costs. For those customers having difficulty
paying their natural gas bills, contact Washington Gas as soon as
possible to learn about alternative payment plans that may be available.
Plans include:

• The Washington Gas Budget Plan: This plan allows eligible
  customers to spread the cost of winter heating over the entire year.
  It helps to minimize the impact of typically higher seasonal bills and
  provides greater flexibility in managing a household budget. The Budget
  Plan is designed as a 12-month program, and we encourage customers
  to stay on it year-round to realize the potential benefits.
• Customer Choice: This is an option for customers to buy their
  natural gas from a licensed energy supply company other than
  Washington Gas. Regardless of which company sells you natural gas,
  Washington Gas will continue to deliver the gas safely and reliably to
  your home through its distribution system, address your customer needs
  and respond around the clock to natural gas emergencies. For more
  information, visit washingtongas.com
  and click on Customer Information then Customer Choice.
• The Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF): Founded by Washington Gas
  and administered by The Salvation Army, WAFF helps families who do not
  qualify for, or who have exhausted, government energy assistance. WAFF
  provides funds for all types of fuel to heat families’
  homes during the winter heating season. Washington Gas pays the
  administrative fees of the fund so 100 percent of WAFF donations go
  directly to those who need assistance. For more information or to
  apply for assistance, contact The Salvation Army at 888-318-WAFF
  (9233) or visit washingtonareafuelfund.org.

For additional information about energy assistance, the budget plan,
energy efficiency, safety and more, visit to www.washingtongas.com.

About Washington Gas

Washington Gas Light Company is a regulated natural gas utility
providing safe, reliable natural gas service to more than 1.1 million
customers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. A
subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc., the company has been providing energy
to residential, commercial and industrial customers for more than 166
years.

About WGL

WGL (NYSE: WGL), headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a leading source
for clean, efficient and diverse energy solutions. With activities and
assets across the U.S., WGL consists of Washington Gas, WGL Energy, WGL
Midstream and Hampshire Gas. WGL provides options for natural gas,
electricity, green power and energy services, including generation,
storage, transportation, distribution, supply and efficiency. Our
calling as a company is to make energy surprisingly easy for our
employees, our community and all our customers. Whether you are a
homeowner or renter, small business or multinational corporation, state
and local or federal agency, WGL is here to provide Energy Answers. Ask
Us. For more information, visit us at www.wgl.com.

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Contacts

Washington Gas
News Media:
Jim Monroe, 202-624-6620
or
Financial
Community:
Douglas Bonawitz, 202-624-6129