More struggle to pay for energy

As the recession deepens, more Virginia utility subscribers are falling behind in paying their winter heating bills, and more are having their electric and gas service disconnected, officials said.

"There's an uptick in the number of customers who are having difficulty paying their electrical bills," Dominion Virginia Power spokesman David Botkins said.

This year, 16 percent of Dominion Virginia Power's residential customers are in arrears, the company said.

"We're also seeing a broader range of customers that are now being affected as a result of the economic conditions we're currently experiencing," as customers who have always paid their energy bills on time are now having trouble paying, Botkins said.

Call us, utilities tell people struggling to cover their heating costs: We'll work with you.

Figures from utilities and charities show the growing impact of the nation's staggering economy on ordinary Virginians:

Dominion Virginia Power is the state's largest electric utility, serving 2.4 million customers in Virginia and North Carolina. Richmond's utilities agency serves 107,500 gas customers in the metro area, while Columbia Gas has nearly 240,000 clients statewide.

Columbia Gas representatives were in Washington yesterday lobbying Congress to continue $5.1 billion in funding to help low-income people across the country pay their energy bills.

"We recognize there's increasing need with the way the economy is changing," Columbia's Bob Innes said, "and we want to make sure Congress understands that."

"We're seeing people who are struggling with these issues because of reductions of income or job losses," said Bruce McClary with ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions. "They simply don't have the money to pay."

Between December 2007 and last December, the nonprofit credit counseling agency based in Richmond experienced a 140 percent increase in the number of people in financial trouble that it helped, McClary said.

"The best advice I can give someone facing a utility bill they cannot pay is to pick up the phone and contact the utility provider," McClary said. "They don't want to have to come out and shut off your utility."

Contact Peter Bacqué at (804) 649-6813 or .