NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN AMENDMENT TO AN

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN AMENDMENT TO AN

APPLICATION FOR A GENERAL INCREASE IN RATES BY

COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC CASE NO, PUE980287

On May 15,1998, Columbia Gas of Virginia, Inc. ("Columbia" or "Company") filed an application with the State Corporation Commission ("Commission") for a general increase in rates and to revise its tariff. On March 29,1999, Columbia filed a motion to amend its application to revise its firm rates to recover most non-gas costs of service as fixed monthly charges, rather than as a function of volumetric throughput. For a great majority of its residential and small general service customers, implementation of the proposed amended rate design will result in reduced bills during the heating season, but will produce increased bills during the remainder of the year. While the total revenue requirement that may be approved is limited to the amount of additional revenue requested in the Company's initial application, PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that rates and charges approved by the Commission may be either higher or lower than those proposed in the Company's initial application. The Commission has suspended the Company's proposed rates and has scheduled a public hearing on June 9,1999, before a Hearing Examiner in the Commission's second floor courtroom, located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, to hear evidence relevant to the Company's application. On or after April 16,1999, a copy of Columbia's amended application and supporting documentation will be available for public inspection during regular business hours at all Columbia offices where customer bills may be paid, and from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the State Corporation Commission, Document Control Center, First Floor, Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia. Any person desiring to comment in writing on Columbia's application and/or its amendments may do so by directing such comments on or before April 30,1999, to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218. Those written comments must refer to Case No. PUE980287. Any person desiring to make a statement at the public hearing concerning Columbia's application need only appear in the Commission's second floor courtroom at 9:45 a.m. on the day of the hearing and identify himself or herself as a public witness to the Commission's Bailiff. On or before April 30,1999, persons desiring to participate as Protestants, as defined in Rule 4:6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure ("Rule" or "Rules"), and who have not yet done so shall file an original and fifteen(15) copies of a Notice of Protest, as provided in Rule 5:16(a), with the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth below and shall serve a copy of the same upon Columbia and all other parties of record. Service upon the Company shall be directed to its counsel, Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, Esquire, McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP, One James Center, 901 E. Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. Any person who expects to submit evidence, cross-examine witnesses, or otherwise participate in the proceedings as a Protestant pursuant to Rule 4:6, shall file on or before April 30,1999, an original and fifteen(15) copies of Protest conforming to Rule 5:16(b) with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218, referring to Case No. PUE980287, and shall simultaneously send a copy thereof to Columbia's counsel at the address listed above and to any other Protestant. The Protest shall set forth (i) a precise statement of interest of the Protestant in the proceeding,-(ii) a full and clear statement of the facts which tire Protestants is prepared to prove by competent evidence; and (iii) a statement of the specific relief sought and the legal basis therefor. Any corporate entity or other entity described in Rule 4:8 that wishes to submit evidence, cross-examine witnesses or otherwise participate as a Protestant must be represented by legal counsel in accordance with the requirements of Rule 4:8. On or before April 30,1999, each Protestant shall file with the Clerk of the Commission an original and fifteen(15) copies of the prepared testimony and exhibits (or of supplemental testimony and exhibits, if prepared testimony and exhibits have previously been filed) the Protestant intends to present at the June 9,1999, public hearing and shall simultaneously mail a copy of same to Columbia's counsel at tire address listed above and to other Protestants. Protestant should review the Commission's June 10,1998. Order Suspending Rates and Setting Hearing for instructions regarding discovery and interrogatories. All written communications to tire Commission concerning the Company's application should be • directed to Joel H. Peck, Cleric of tire State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, • po. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218, and should refer to Case No. PUE980287. ' Individuals with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in tire hearing may contact tire Commission at 1-800-552-7945 (voice) or 1-804-371-9026 (TDD). Individuals requesting accommodation should contact the Commission at either of these numbers at least seven (7) days before the scheduled hearing date.

COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC.