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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio offering this program?
2. Do I have to make a choice?
3. What other information is available to help me decide?
4. Why should I change my gas supplier?
5. How much could I expect to save?
6. When can I sign up?
7. Are these savings guaranteed?
8. How will I know if I'm eligible to participate?
9. Is there a fee to participate?
10. Is the quality of gas the same?
11. What standards must natural gas suppliers meet?
12. Can I avoid being solicited by gas suppliers over the phone?
13. Can I avoid being placed on suppliers' mailing and call lists?
14. How can a supplier sell natural gas for less than Vectren?
15. If I choose a new supplier, what services will Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio provide?
16. How will I learn about participating suppliers?
17. How do I sign up for Choice?
18. Can I enroll in Choice through a supplier by telephone?
19. How long will I have to stay with a new supplier, and can I change suppliers?
20. If I change suppliers, how will I be billed?
21. Can I still use Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio's Budget Bill?
22. Can I still use Auto Pay to pay my gas bill?
23. How can I be sure my gas supplier will be as reliable as Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio?
24. What if I want Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio to continue as my supplier?
25. What if I have a dispute with the supplier?
26. What if I fail to honor the agreement with the supplier?
27. Do I have to pay sales tax?
28. What about disputes or unpaid charges?
29. What are the choice options for PIPP customers?
1. Why is Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio offering this program?
Ohio Choice is designed to allow our customers to take full advantage of the open natural gas market.
Just as you have choices of suppliers or vendors when buying other products and services, Choice allows
you access to suppliers of natural gas other than Vectren. This program gives you the opportunity to
select a supplier offering a pricing arrangement most attractive to you.
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2. Do I have to make a choice?
No. Participation is voluntary. If you don't choose a supplier, Vectren will continue to provide your
gas at the standard sales offer. PIPP customers cannot enroll as individuals. All PIPP customers will
join as a group in the standards sales offer.
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3. What other information is available to help me decide?
For further assistance with making your choice, a straightforward "Apples to Apples" comparison of suppliers'
offers as well as a host of other information regarding your utility service, you may contact the Public Utilities
Commission of Ohio (PUCO) at www.PUCO.ohio.gov
or call 1-800-299-7271.
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4. Why should I change my gas supplier?
Potential savings and fixed price offers. The cost of the natural gas usually represents over half of your
monthly gas bill. You may be able to reduce that amount through Choice. Besides cost savings,
suppliers might offer other incentives or attractive payment arrangements.
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5. How much could I expect to save?
That depends on the supplier you choose, the program they offer and Vectren’s standard sales offer.
Some suppliers may offer a flat rate for a certain amount of gas. Others may offer guaranteed savings
or package incentives. Just remember, gas prices may fluctuate in a competitive market, so the amount
of your total savings might vary over time depending upon your supplier's plan.
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6. When can I sign up?
You may sign-up through your chosen supplier anytime.
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7. Are these savings guaranteed?
Only if the supplier you choose provides a guarantee. Vectren cannot guarantee any offer made by suppliers.
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8. How will I know if I'm eligible to participate?
If you live in Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio's service area, you are eligible. Businesses using less than
150,000 CCF of natural gas annually are also eligible. Please note you are not eligible to participate in
Choice if you have a past due gas balance on your account and have not entered into and
honored a payment arrangement. Associated services can be enrolled.
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9. Is there a fee to participate?
There are no application or membership fees attached to your initial choice in the Choice program.
In fact, some suppliers may offer you incentives to sign up.
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10. Is the quality of gas the same?
Yes. The quality and safety of the gas remain constant, regardless of the supplier. Likewise, Vectren will
still provide safe and reliable delivery of the gas to your home and business.
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11. What standards must natural gas suppliers meet?
First, all suppliers must meet Vectren's qualifications for participation, and suppliers serving residential
customers must be certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. All suppliers must agree to a Code of Conduct,
which requires them to:
Clearly communicate customers' rights and responsibilities
Refrain from fraudulent practices
Submit to a credit check
Provide a means to resolve disputes between the supplier and the customer
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12. Can I avoid being solicited by gas suppliers over the phone?
Yes. You can call the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to be added or removed from the PUCO maintained
"do not call list" at 1-800-299-7271. Suppliers get regular updates
of this list and are not allowed to call customers on this list to solicit them by telephone.
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13. Can I avoid being placed on suppliers' mailing and call lists?
Yes. Click here and complete the attached form to remove yourself from the list
of eligible customers that Vectren must offer suppliers. Even if you request that your name and contact
information not be included on this list, you can still participate in Choice by choosing
a natural gas supplier.
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14. How can a supplier sell natural gas for less than Vectren?
Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio will charge the same standard sales offer price for the natural commodity to
all non-Choice customers. This price, which reflects the market, will be set by an auction and formula regulated
by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Natural gas is bought and sold in the commodity market, so different
contracts may produce different pricing strategies. Gas suppliers are not regulated, so they can offer different
pricing options that the utility cannot. For example, you might be able to lock in your gas price for a year, or
buy your gas priced on a seasonal basis rather than monthly. Suppliers may offer different rates to different types
of customers.
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15. If I choose a new supplier, what services will Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio provide?
Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio will still be your local gas utility. Vectren will continue to offer the reliable
services including responding to emergencies, reading meters and maintaining utility-owned pipelines.
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16. How will I learn about participating suppliers?
Qualified suppliers may contact you with information using advertising, direct mail, personal contact, or other
customary means to promote their services. Or click here
for a list of participating suppliers and contact them yourself.
Vectren will update the list as new suppliers qualify.
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17. How do I sign up for Choice?
It's simple to enroll in Choice: Just remember that you must enroll through a supplier, not Vectren.
You must enter into a contract with your supplier stating the terms and conditions of your purchase and provide the
supplier your Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio account number. (Please note that these gas purchase agreements and
their rates are currently not regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.)
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18. Can I enroll in Choice through a supplier by telephone?
Yes. Click here to link to enrollment information.
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19. How long will I have to stay with a new supplier, and can I change suppliers?
The length of your contract will be decided between you and your supplier. When your contract expires, you may
change suppliers, keep the same supplier or return to Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio as your supplier. Read your
supplier contract carefully to see if there might be a penalty for early termination.
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20. If I change suppliers, how will I be billed?
Most suppliers elect to bill on a Vectren Energy Delivery Bill, but your supplier may offer other billing options.
You may receive a single invoice from Vectren including both your supplier gas costs and your Vectren Energy Delivery
of Ohio delivery costs or, in some instances, separate invoices from your supplier and Vectren. In any event, you will
continue to receive monthly invoices from Vectren including traditional bill messages and inserts. Questions
regarding how the charges for the natural gas itself were calculated should be directed to the party generating
the bill, and all other questions associated with your natural gas purchases should be directed to the supplier.
Contact Vectren for questions concerning safety, meter reading, service or gas delivery.
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21. Can I still use Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio's Budget Bill?
Yes.
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22. Can I still use Auto Pay to pay my gas bill?
Each supplier's payment plans may differ. Unless you indicate otherwise, you will remain on Auto Pay
(automatic bank draft) for any charges billed by Vectren. If your supplier charges will not be included on your
Vectren invoice, check with your supplier before you agree to a contract to see if they offer an automatic bank
draft such as Auto Pay.
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23. How can I be sure my gas supplier will be as reliable as Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio?
All suppliers must meet stringent requirements to participate in the program, and suppliers serving residential
customers must be certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The Choice program has
been designed to include safeguards to provide natural gas to participants even if natural gas is not received by
the supplier.
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24. What if I want Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio to continue as my supplier?
You don't have to do a thing. If you choose not to participate in the Choice program, Vectren
will continue to purchase and deliver gas for you. You don't have to notify anyone of your decision.
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25. What if I have a dispute with the supplier?
First, contact the supplier to reach a solution. If the supplier fails to make a good-faith attempt to negotiate or
resolve the issue, contact the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Consumer complaints could lead to the
termination of the supplier's participation in the Choice program. If the supplier's participation
is terminated, its customers may switch back to Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio or to another supplier. Vectren
will not terminate or interrupt the delivery of gas to you as a result of a dispute between you and your supplier.
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26. What if I fail to honor the agreement with the supplier?
As with any contractual agreement, both parties must honor the terms. Be sure to read the entire contract carefully to
understand your rights to change suppliers or cancel under reasonable circumstances. Also, be aware of any cancellation
fees that might apply. Your supplier agreement can be terminated for non-payment of any gas charges after a written
notice is provided to you at least 14-days prior to such termination. In this event, Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio
will once again become your gas supplier. If you have any questions, request your answers in writing before you agree
to a contract with a supplier.
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27. Do I have to pay sales tax?
Organizations that are tax exempt from paying sales or use tax must inform their chosen supplier of this status when
enrolling. It is the customer's responsibility to provide proper documentation to the choice supplier.
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28. What about disputes or unpaid charges?
If you have a disput with either the supplier or Vectren it is imperative that you pay all of your monthly charges
to avoid being disconnected or terminated from the choice program. This could lead to accruing late payment fees.
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29. What are the choice options for PIPP customers?
PIPP customers will be supplied by a choice supplier only when a choice supplier is awarded a contract that is subject
to review by Vectren and the PUCO. If no supplier is chosen, all PIPP customers will remain with Vectren.
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