Columbia Gas teams up with Red Cross

Date: 2/13/2013

MARLBOROUGH – Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent company NiSource Inc. recently announced a partnership with the American Red Cross.

For each customer who enrolls in the Columbia Gas free Direct e-Bill paperless billing service between now and March 31, the company will donate $10 to Red Cross chapters in Massachusetts to help provide critical services and lifesaving training for families and individuals in their community including: disaster preparedness; disaster relief and recovery assistance; first aid and CPR training; disease prevention initiatives; blood collections; and assistance to the military and their families.

"We've all witnessed the devastating effects of natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy and other emergency events such as hurricanes, tornadoes and fires," Steve Bryant, president of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, said. "We are proud to partner with the Red Cross, providing donations to them on behalf of our customers. The Red Cross always steps up to provide emergency assistance to those in need and we hope this partnership provides needed funds to support their important mission in our own backyard."

Neal Litvack, American Red Cross chief development officer, said, "We thank Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its customers for their support of the Red Cross mission. This partnership will help ensure that the Red Cross is there, whether we are helping a family recover from a house fire or teaching community members how they can prepare for emergencies."

The paperless billing option is a free and convenient way for customers to manage their account and help the environment at the same time. Visit www.ColumbiaGasMA.com and select "Manage Your Account" to sign up for free paperless Direct e-Bill services.

Instead of receiving a paper bill in the mail, customers receive an email notification that their utility bill is available to view the same day it's rendered.

E-bill customers can continue to mail their payment if they prefer. Or, they can pay their bill online at no charge and perform other business on their account, such as signing up for the Budget Payment Plan. The email notification also includes a link to electronic versions of monthly bill inserts, customer newsletters and other important account information.

Columbia Gas will donate $10 to the American Red Cross for each customer in Massachusetts who signs up for paperless Direct e-Bill between by March 31, up to an aggregate maximum commitment of $15,000. Enrollment in paperless Direct e-Bill is not tax deductible.

The company's donation will support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross whether it's responding to a disaster, collecting lifesaving blood, teaching skills that can save a life, or assisting military members and their families throughout its service territories.