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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 provide?
16. How will I learn about participating suppliers?
17. How do I choose another supplier through the Choice program?
18. Can choose another 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?
30. What is Vectren's default sales service?
1. Why is Vectren offering this program?
The Choice program was 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 SCO price. PIPP customers cannot enroll as individuals. All PIPP customers will join as a group in Vectren’s default sales service.
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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 at 1-800-299-7271. You may also contact the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel at 1-877-742-5622 or utilize their Calculating Your Energy Choices comparison tool.
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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 more than half of your
monthly gas bill. You may be able to reduce that amount through the Choice program. 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 the current SCO price. 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 typically 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's Ohio 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" for 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's SCO price is the same monthly price for 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 provide?
Vectren 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 can 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 choose another supplier through the Choice program?
It's simple to choose: 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 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 choose another 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 or keep the same supplier. If you no longer wish to remain with a Choice supplier, you will be placed on Vectren default sales service. Vectren’s default sales service is similar to Vectren’s SCO service in that it is calculated by adding the retail price adjustment of $0.155 per one hundred cubic feet (CCF) to the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) month-end settlement price for natural gas. 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?
Currently, all suppliers elect to bill on a Vectren Energy Delivery Bill. Your monthly bill will reflect charges from Vectren for gas delivery charges and the cost of the natural gas as billed by your chosen supplier. In any event, you will continue to receive monthly invoices from Vectren including traditional bill messages and inserts. Questions regarding 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.
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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 to continue as my supplier?
Vectren is no longer supplying natural gas to customers. Since October 2008, Vectren has been purchasing gas through third-party suppliers who competed in an auction process for the right to provide the natural gas commodity to these sales customers. Four natural gas suppliers won the right to provide gas supply to Vectren customers at the standard choice offer (SCO) price. Those companies are DTE Energy Supply, IGS Energy, Ohio Natural Gas and Vectren Source.
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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) or the Ohio Consumers' Counsel. 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, you will receive your gas supply from one of four suppliers through Vectren's SCO service. 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 relay this information to their SCO supplier or inform their supplier of this status when selecting an alternate supplier through the Choice program. It is the customer's responsibility to provide proper documentation to the Choice or the SCO supplier.
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28. What about disputes or unpaid charges?
If you have a dispute 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's default sales service.
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30. What is Vectren’s default sales service?
Vectren’s default sales service is similar to Vectren’s SCO service in that it is calculated by adding the retail price adjustment of $0.155 per one hundred cubic feet (CCF) to the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) month-end settlement price for natural gas. The only difference is that there is no supplier assigned to the default sales service. Customers who are not eligible for the Choice program or those who choose not to renew their contacts with Choice suppliers will receive Vectren’s default sales service.
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