Act now to avoid possible disconnects and late fees for lack of payment

Dear Valued Customer:

Every day, our team works to deliver essential, reliable natural gas service to you. We know that difficult economic times have made it challenging for some customers to stay current with their bills. Our team is here to support customers who may be experiencing financial hardship.   

It’s important that customers reach out for support now because we will again be assessing late fees and disconnecting customers for lack of payment beginning this month in some of our jurisdictions. To avoid late fees or possible disconnection, customers have several options.   

The timing of potential disconnections will vary depending on where you live. Moratoriums preventing disconnections have expired in Maryland and may expire in May in Washington, D.C and Virginia. Click on the hyperlinks of the regulatory commissions in your area for more information about utility moratoriums: Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.           

How can Washington Gas help?

The fastest way to get assistance is to visit Washington Gas Cares where you can find information on energy assistance or enroll in a payment plan that fits your budget. This one-stop online location has information about all of our available plans and programs, which are spelled out in more detail below.

Please let us help you get current with your bill and avoid any disruption in your service. Visit us online or call us at 1-844-WASHGAS (927-4427) today. We are here to help!

Thanks for being our valued customer.

Sincerely,

Michelle Musgrove, Vice President of Customer Experience

Washington Gas Assistance Programs -- Payment Plans: A Variety for Convenience

Our Washington Gas Cares program allows us to work with our customers to get the assistance they need to handle their utility bills. Visit www.washingtongascares.com. You’ll find:

How to Get Help

• Customers seeking payment assistance through many existing programs across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia can go to the Energy Assistance page.
• Customers interested in making a payment or choosing among many payment arrangement plans using the self-service online option can visit the Payment Plan page.

A summary of the payment plans to help with managing an account balance:  

• Deferred Payment Plan – All eligible customers who cannot pay the “past due bill amount” as well as the “current charges” on their bill can enter into a deferred pay agreement or consent order. Currently Washington Gas is offering 12-month payment plans and, in some cases, up to 24 months with no down payment.
• Budget Plan – Spreads the cost of winter heating over the entire year. Washington Gas calculates the customer’s average monthly payment based on historical natural gas usage, adjusted for normal weather and projected gas costs. Periodically, we review the account to confirm that our monthly estimate is on target.
• Payment Extension Plan – (Offered to residential customers only) Can extend the due date for customers – typically individuals whose main source of income is a monthly government or pension check – who purchase gas from Washington Gas and receive their bills after the 10th of the month.
• Automated Payment Plan (APPL) – Customers can pay their bill automatically every month through the Automated Payment Plan. Washington Gas will continue to bill each month, and on the payment due date, the bill amount will be automatically deducted from the customer’s checking account which will avoid the need for check writing, postage and/or waiting in line. If a customer is enrolled in Washington Gas’ eBill program, an electronic notification will be sent every month to the customer’s registered email address with a link to view the electronic bill.  However, if a customer prefers to receive a paper bill each month, customers can still pay their gas bill automatically through the APPL.

Customers may also reach Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), selecting option 2 for more information or to establish payment arrangements. View FAQs here.

How to Give Help

• Customers can help those struggling to pay their bill through an act of kindness. For example, through the Gift of Warmth program, customers can pay a gas bill for their fellow customers.
• Customers can also donate to the Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF). More than 35 years ago, Washington Gas and The Salvation Army created WAFF to help families in need pay their bill.