Virginia Natural Gas Seniors are being asked to pay what they do not have! Charlote, North Carolina

In addition to the OP's current situation, Virginia Natural Gas has applied to the state for permission to INCREASE its rates.  According to news media reports locally, the average residential customer's bill will increase by an average of $6.00 a month.

Like the original poster, I myself am an older, disabled, person subsisting upon a very limited, fixed, monthly income.  $6.00 may not sound like much to many people out there, but until you have to live as the original OP (Cypress) and I do (or watch your parents/grandparents have to)...you won't be able to fully grasp just how that increase DOES impact our lives.

To compound it all is the fact we're now hearing that those of us who are disabled (including disabled veterans like me), seniors, and others who must subsist on disability income (e.g. Veterans Disability Compensation, SSDI, SSI, etc)...will likely NOT receive a cost of living increase for the 2012 year!  It is unfortunate enough we have not received one for 2 consecutive years now...despite the fact gas prices, utility costs, grocery prices, etc ARE increasing significantly!

To re-assert what I have mentioned in a prior posting...how many citizens in the aforementioned classes will have to pay the ultimate price before the Congress, the President, and others take the cotton out of their ears and put it in their mouths...and HEAR our voices?  How many will be found dead in their residences or on the streets this winter (and summer)...all because they did not have enough $$$ to "feed the machine", so-to-speak, and live the marginal existance they already have to?

It almost sounds like a not-so-subtle form of the rhetorical "death panels" as referred to in the news media with regard to health care for seniors a while back.  If you are in the younger generation, so-to-speak, make no mistake; the day will come when YOU too will be a senior.  You might even become disabled long before reaching retirement age, and end up having to subsist as Cypress, myself, and millions of others do...on a very limited disability income.

Your own parents may be impacted as well...or they may already be affected significantly right now.

Indifference about the plight of the aforementioned citizens now...WILL one day, come back to affect you as well!  I would strongly urge ANYONE who is affected as the original OP and I are, as well as, any of you comprising the "younger" generation (or older generation)...who DO care about the plight of the less fortunate...to write your Congressional representatives  (in BOTH Houses of Congress), and urge them do act!

(Side note:  The Congress, in 2010, TWICE voted AGAINST providing a one-time $250 payment to the aforementioned citizenry to offset the lack of a cost of living increase for 2 years in a row.  How many of THEM...have parents or other loved ones who have to subsist upon a fixed, limited monthly disability income & make the choices between having food, medicine, etc each month?  I doubt you would find a single one!).

It is truly unfortunate that in this day and time when utilitiy companies are posting record profits AND have many conscientious customers who contribute sizable $$$ to these so-called "energy-share" programs [which both electric and gas company providers have]...and solicit donations for, from their existing customers, that ANY of our elderly citizens are forced by circumstances to choose between having heat, purchasing needed medications, orputting food on the table!

Not only does this situation affect the elderly, but families with small children as well. Bear in mind also...that many of those affected have no family members or relatives to whom they can turn for help either! I know...as I am one such person!

How many more indigent citizens must die - - often ALONEduring the winter (and summer months)...all becausea company's profit marginsupercedes humanitarian concern for those less fortunate? EVERY single winter and summer...you have only to pick up most any newspaper or view the local news on TV to see where increasing numbers of people are left in the cold (or stifling heat of the summer); left without enough food to survive or life-sustaining medications they need justto make it through each day!

Do not make the mistake of believing it cannot possibly happen to you. Wall Street firms made that same error in believing "they were too big to fail"...and everyone has seen first hand what happened to THEM!

You may be one of thosefortunate enough to indeed have a nice comfortable home, excellent finances,and lifestyle...for now. But, never forget...it can all vanish in a very short moment in time! Remember the lessons of the Great Depression!