Thousands of Hoosiers are in for a cold shock next week, as gas utilities -- such as Citizens Gas & Coke Utility, NIPSCO and Vectren Corp. -- prepare to turn off heat to customers who have overdue balances.
The state moratorium that prohibits gas utilities from disconnecting customers who are behind in paying their bills during the peak winter months expires March 15.
Utilities estimate more people could be left without heat this year compared with last year, mainly because cold weather and skyrocketing wholesale gas prices have driven up heating bills while the weak economy and increasing joblessness have made it difficult for many to pay their bills.
Vectren has notified roughly 3,500 customers -- those mostly on energy assistance -- who could face possible disconnection on Saturday compared with approximately 1,500 who received similar notices at the same time last year. Vectren serves about 730,000 gas customers in central and southwest Indiana.
"This has been a difficult winter, it really cut across all customer classes," said Vectren spokesman Mike Roeder. "When freezing temperatures coupled with exponentially increasing gas prices, everybody has struggled with bills. It has impacted our energy assistance class as it has other groups."
Wholesale gas prices more than doubled during January and February this year, compared with the same period last year, Roeder said. Gas prices account for roughly 65 percent of home heating bills.
Citizens Gas -- which serves 262,000 customers in and around Marion County -- expects more than 900 customers to face disconnection next week, after the moratorium expires.
"The exact number facing disconnection is still a moving target, but typically about 900 low-income customers face disconnection each year at the end of the moratorium," said Citizens Gas spokesman Dan Considine. "Given the severity of the winter and continued problems in the economy, we recognize more people may be behind on their energy bills this year."
Needy families can contact the utilities to discuss various payment options that could prevent their heat from being turned off. Under a program called "Keep the Heat On," Citizens Gas is contacting its delinquent customers about flexible payment arrangements.
Vectren's program, "Warmth," is aimed toward assisting low-income customers who face disconnection.
The 24 community action centers located throughout the state also are helping people with heating bills. Community Action of Greater Indianapolis -- which serves Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks and Marion Counties -- can be reached at 1-317-396-1800.
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The state moratorium that prohibits gas utilities from disconnecting customers who are behind in paying their bills during the peak winter months expires March 15.
Utilities estimate more people could be left without heat this year compared with last year, mainly because cold weather and skyrocketing wholesale gas prices have driven up heating bills while the weak economy and increasing joblessness have made it difficult for many to pay their bills.
Vectren has notified roughly 3,500 customers -- those mostly on energy assistance -- who could face possible disconnection on Saturday compared with approximately 1,500 who received similar notices at the same time last year. Vectren serves about 730,000 gas customers in central and southwest Indiana.
"This has been a difficult winter, it really cut across all customer classes," said Vectren spokesman Mike Roeder. "When freezing temperatures coupled with exponentially increasing gas prices, everybody has struggled with bills. It has impacted our energy assistance class as it has other groups."
Wholesale gas prices more than doubled during January and February this year, compared with the same period last year, Roeder said. Gas prices account for roughly 65 percent of home heating bills.
Citizens Gas -- which serves 262,000 customers in and around Marion County -- expects more than 900 customers to face disconnection next week, after the moratorium expires.
"The exact number facing disconnection is still a moving target, but typically about 900 low-income customers face disconnection each year at the end of the moratorium," said Citizens Gas spokesman Dan Considine. "Given the severity of the winter and continued problems in the economy, we recognize more people may be behind on their energy bills this year."
Needy families can contact the utilities to discuss various payment options that could prevent their heat from being turned off. Under a program called "Keep the Heat On," Citizens Gas is contacting its delinquent customers about flexible payment arrangements.
Vectren's program, "Warmth," is aimed toward assisting low-income customers who face disconnection.
The 24 community action centers located throughout the state also are helping people with heating bills. Community Action of Greater Indianapolis -- which serves Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks and Marion Counties -- can be reached at 1-317-396-1800.
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