For Immediate Release
October 12, 2011 1 p.m.

For More Information Contact:
Ann Ennis, President, 425-4461
Jennifer Mason, 425-4461

KEB honors those who know “image matters”

Keep Evansville Beautiful board of directors welcomed Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and 158 others guests at the agency’s annual award luncheon Wednesday, October 12.

The KEB Community Improvement Award went to Bootz Industries, for the major installation of a multi-acre greenscape with a park-like setting on First Avenue just South of Uhlhorn Avenue. Sod, trees, shrubbery and irrigation all make this formerly empty industrial lot shine.

One of two Outstanding Volunteer Awards went to Jeanette and Tom Scheller, of Akin Park Neighborhood. This husband and wife teams put in long hours and have for years in monitoring, cleaning and planting in Akin Park, as well as leading neighborhood cleanups. The second Volunteer of the Year is Jim Beck, of Alcoa-Warrick Operations and the KEB board of directors. Beck leads the Education Committee and is a strident and energized supporter of conservation, recycling and sustainable business practices. He also serves at Chair Elect for the not-for-profit agency.

The third major award is the 19th annual Keep Evansville Beautiful Partner of the Year Award, selected from board nominations of worthy business or agency efforts that support Keep Evansville Beautiful’s mission. Hafer Associates, a local architectural and engineering firm, received the award for extensive support of planning and developing the Airport Gateway and US Highway 41 Gateway project. Hafer’s principal Jeff Justice has led the Gateway project for nearly three years. KEB notes that none of the progress would be possible without Hafer Associates’ leadership. Hafer also received an in-kind supporter award for the firms donated professional services in 2011.

Also honored were three Extraordinary Sponsorship Award honorees for major gifts of $10,000 or more: Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana, Vectren Energy, Archer Daniels Midland and Scripp Foundation, via Evansville Courier & Press.

The annual Roots to Grow awards went to businesses making program sponsorship of $2,000 or more: Alcoa Warrick Operations, Fifth Third Bank, Peabody Energy, Bussing-Koch Foundation, The Downtown Kiwanis, Deaconess Hospital, The North Side Business Association, The Kiwanis Club of the North Side, The Jeffrey A. Bosse Family, Evansville Urban Enterprise Association, Joseph Parker and the Mr. & Mrs. Bob Giolitto Family, Old National Bank, Springleaf Financial Services, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, and Allied Waste/Republic Services.

KEB also awarded several in-kind support wards, a new category in 2011 to businesses that donate professional services or supplies. KEB notes that these donations nearly double program effectiveness annually. In-kind awards went to The Evansville Courier and Press, Hafer Associates, Townsquare Media, Acclaim Graphics, NM Bunge Masonry, IBEW Local 16, Deig Bros. Construction, Bernardin Lochmueller & Associates, and Industrial Contractors, Inc.

During the ceremony, KEB President Ann Ennis said, “The amount of absolute teamwork, can-do attitudes and pride Keep Evansville Beautiful finds in our community this past year is over-the-top inspiring. Together, we all made a ridiculous number of major projects succeed. “There is nothing we cannot achieve working together in Southwestern Indiana; you have to believe that,” she said to the audience.

Also today, Evansville Courier & Press Magazine Editor Cheryl Martin presented the new GreenOVATION Awards. This program expanded the previous business landscaping awards. GreenOVATION invited regional businesses to score themselves on an array of landscaping, good neighbor and conservation practices.

The GreenOVATION awards are progressive rewards representing a community that strives for sustainable and quality conservation and curb appeal practices. As the Garner Report, of the Regional Economic Development Coalition, notes, these are truly economic development tools for the tri-state.

GreenOVATION Endeavor Awards go to entities with scores of 60% on the worksheet, a score that shows they are endeavoring to put into place aesthetic and conservation-minded office practices: Anchor Industries, Evansville Police Department-South Sector Office, Koch Enterprises, and Deig Bros. Construction.

The Merit Award this year includes businesses, congregations and civic entities that have each secured a score of 75% or better on the worksheet. These honorees are significantly achieving results in promoting curb appeal, neighborliness and sustainable operations practices: Burdette Park – Pool, Deaconess Hospital, Evansville Courier & Press, Gribbins Insulation Company, Inc., Orthopaedic Associates, Wesselman Nature Society , Working Distributors Inc., St. Mary Catholic Church, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Data Mail Inc. , VPS Architecture, Fifth Third Bank, Ashley Point Apartments, and the Evansville Airport Authority.
Finally, the GreenOVATION Excellence Awards, go to those entities achieving a score of 90% or better. This score shows leadership in conservation, image-building and good citizenship: Vanderburgh Humane Society, University of Evansville, University of Southern Indiana, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, St. Benedict Cathedral and Parish, Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden , Hampton Inn – Evansville Airport, Old National Bank, and Burdette Park Main Office, Miniature Golf and Discovery Lodge

Oct. 12, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Chase Kelley, (812) 491-4128 or kckelley@vectren.com

Forecasted winter gas bills to drop nearly 5 percent;
Vectren South natural gas bills among lowest in Indiana

Evansville, Ind. – Natural gas prices that continue to remain stable and relatively low will again translate to more manageable bill amounts for Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana – South (Vectren) customers. Today, the utility announced that assuming normal winter weather, customers could see bills that are nearly 5 percent less than last year’s heating season, which saw bills decrease 30 to 35 percent from the 2008-2009 winter. Abundant gas supply in the U.S. has resulted in natural gas costs, which are passed through to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis, remaining at levels not seen since 2001.

“For the past two years, natural gas prices have remained flat with prices stabilizing in the 40 to 45-cents per therm range; where as, three years ago, the market produced prices as high as $1.00 to $1.20,” said Vectren Chairman, President and CEO Carl Chapman. “Given gas costs represent 60 to 70 percent of winter bills, these lower prices are helping keep bill amounts down. In fact, the forecasted bill amounts for this winter have not been this low in nearly a decade.”

Last year, a typical residential customer would have paid roughly $450 for November through March natural gas service based on normal weather. This year, based upon expected natural gas commodity costs, that same customer could expect to pay around $440 in heating costs based on the average household consumption of approximately 550 therms. Bills will vary by customer depending on the size and age of the home, number of gas appliances, number in the household, thermostat settings and levels of insulation.

Vectren natural gas bills in southwestern Indiana are among the lowest in the state with only two natural gas companies offering lower prices. According to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission bill survey from September 2011, Vectren held position number 18 with position number 1 ranking as the highest bill amount and position number 20 ranking the lowest.

“Even though bills continue to be lower, it doesn’t mean customers should lose sight of implementing energy efficiency measures and finding ways to use less natural gas to lower bills even further – using energy wisely is always the best practice regardless of gas costs,” Chapman added. “Investing in high-efficiency appliances, implementing low-cost energy efficiency measures and upgrading insulation are still the right steps to undertake.”

Vectren has in place a number of tools to help customers manage their energy bills.
• Conservation Connection – Offers appliance rebates and new energy-saving tools to help customers to lower their total natural gas bills. All Indiana residential and small commercial natural gas customers are eligible. A conservation call center (866) 240-8476 is also available to help customers focus on conservation. Visit Vectren.com for a list of rebates and qualifying appliances.

• Budget Bill: Under this billing plan, a customer’s estimated costs for a year of gas service are spread out in equal monthly bill amounts for the year. This leveling of monthly bill amounts reduces the need to pay the full amount in the winter and spreads some of those higher bill charges into the non-heating months. Typically, amounts are adjusted annually for actual costs and the customer’s credit or amount due rolls into the next calculation. A mid-winter recalculation may occur for some customers if gas costs significantly change during the heating season. Customers can enroll for free at http://www.vectren.com or by calling 1-800-227-1376.

• Energy efficiency tips: Low-cost home improvement and energy conservation tips are available at Vectren.com or by calling Vectren’s Conservation Connection at 1-866-240-8476. Customers can also access how-to videos on home improvement projects such as caulking, weather-stripping or installing a low-flow showerhead at http://www.VectrenLiveSmart.com.

• Share the Warmth: Those wanting to help the less fortunate with their energy bills can contribute to Share the Warmth, a nonprofit organization that assists income-eligible customers with home weatherization services. Each year, Vectren matches all public donations, up to an annual total of $200,000. Donations may be tax-deductible and can be sent to Share the Warmth, P.O. Box 931, Evansville, IN 47706-0931 or visit http://www.sharethewarmthinc.com.

• Energy Assistance Program (EAP): State and federal utility assistance dollars are available for income-eligible customers. Those that fall within 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines should visit their local community action agency to sign up for EAP. To apply for the EAP, customers should call 1-800-872-0371 to locate their nearest community action agency.

• Universal Service Program (USP): All eligible natural gas customers who apply and qualify for EAP will automatically be enrolled in the Universal Service Program (USP), which provides additional gas bill reductions that range from 15 to 32 percent of the total bill (not including EAP benefits) in the months of December through May. Today, Vectren filed a petition with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to continue the USP through 2016. The USP, which has been in place since 2005 and is set to expire in October 2012, is the result of a collaborative effort by Vectren, Citizens Energy Group, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, Citizens Action Coalition and a group representing industrial customers. The program provides about $5 million in assistance each year to roughly 30,000 Vectren Indiana customers, including crisis assistance dollars, which target qualified low-income and working-poor households that need additional help to get reconnected and/or maintain heat throughout the upcoming winter.

“Regardless of lower bill amounts, we know many Hoosiers still find themselves struggling to pay their bills and in need of financial assistance,” said Chapman. “Programs like Share the Warmth and the Universal Service Program are critical in helping Hoosiers manage costs and stay warm. We encourage customers to contact their local community action agency today and apply for financial and/or home weatherization assistance.”

Natural gas is a commodity bought and sold in a national deregulated market and prices fluctuate daily due to supply and demand pressures. Vectren purchases natural gas on behalf of its customers and then passes those costs on to customers through the gas cost adjustment, which is listed on the Vectren bill as “Gas Cost Charge.” Vectren utilities are not allowed to mark up nor profit from the purchase and sale of natural gas. Only gas costs approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission are recovered from customers.

Vectren South delivers natural gas to approximately 111,000 natural gas customers in southwestern Indiana, including Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Martin, Posey, Pike, Spencer, Warrick and Vanderburgh counties.

About Vectren
Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC) is an energy holding company headquartered in Evansville, Ind. Vectren’s energy delivery subsidiaries provide gas and/or electricity to more than one million customers in adjoining service territories that cover nearly two-thirds of Indiana and west central Ohio. Vectren’s nonutility subsidiaries and affiliates currently offer energy-related products and services to customers throughout the U.S. These include infrastructure services, energy services, coal mining and energy marketing. To learn more about Vectren, visit http://www.vectren.com.