As Vermont Gas Systems has expanded service to Jericho and Richmond, almost 950 new business and residential customers saved nearly $1.9 million in 2014 alone by converting from heating oil and propane. About 75 percent of the two towns’ potential customers have converted to natural gas. In the last year, these new Vermont Gas customers also prevented carbon emissions equivalent to the emissions from more than 4.4 million miles of driving.
“Jericho and Richmond are the latest examples of how energy choice can help Vermonters reduce costs and emissions,” said Don Rendall, President and CEO of Vermont Gas. “Our residential rates have gone down 15% in the past three years, sustaining natural gas as an affordable energy option for businesses and families. We are committed to providing more Vermonters access to natural gas through innovation, efficiency, and expansion.”
In addition to customer savings, Vermont Gas provides value to Jericho and Richmond by providing approximately $81,000 in property taxes over the past 12 months.
“We hear from Vermonters every day that they want the choice of using reliable, clean, and more affordable natural gas,” said Tom Murray, director of sales and marketing for Vermont Gas. “We are partnering with residents and business customers to ensure a smooth process by assisting with conversions and ongoing support.”
In most cases new natural gas customers in Jericho and Richmond converted to natural gas with little or no upfront costs.
Neal Johnston, a resident of Jericho and co-owner of the Kitchen Table in Richmond, has converted his home and is in the process of converting his business as well.
“After reaching out to Vermont Gas to encourage them to serve more of our community, they worked with me to bring natural gas service to our street,” Johnston said. “At home, we had been using oil, propane, and wood. By switching to just natural gas we immediately started to save a substantial amount of money each month. The new system is also much more efficient, cleaner and we’re not locked into the more expensive oil and propane contracts. The process went well.”
Johnston said he is also converting his business to natural gas.
“The business is located in a home built by Governor Thomas Chittenden, Vermont’s first governor, for his son Mark. You can imagine the costs of heating a colonial building, even with some modern enhancements, and about 60 percent of our fuel cost is propane for the stoves and ovens in our kitchen.” Johnston noted. “Converting to natural gas will save money and make our business cleaner and more efficient. Natural gas adds a lot of value.”
Vermont Gas also offers customers nationally recognized energy efficiency programs. Those programs – which have served about 30,000 participants – are saving current customers about $14 million annually.
According to the Vermont Department of Public Service’s comparison of prices for April 2015, natural gas is 50% percent less expensive than propane and 25% percent lower than fuel oil.
Source: Vermont Gas. 4.28.15. Vermont Gas Systems is a leader in energy efficiency and innovation, offering a clean, safe, affordable choice for almost 50,000 homes, businesses, and institutions in Franklin and Chittenden counties. The company plays an important role in Vermont’s clean energy future by displacing higher-emitting fuels and with its award-winning energy efficiency programs. For more information about Vermont Gas visit www.VermontGas.com.