Beginning today, Jan. 19, Washington Gas and its signature philanthropic program, the Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF), will distribute Snuggie®-style blankets to individuals who contribute $300 or more online at washingtonareafuelfund.org. Recipients of the WAFF blanket, which bears the WAFF logo, may elect to "spread the warmth" and donate it to a local shelter or directly to a Washington metropolitan area Salvation Army location.

"It is critical that Washington-area residents continue to support WAFF. The nation's current economic situation has had a significant impact on our local area and the number of people seeking energy assistance continues to grow," said Eric Grant, Vice President of Corporate Relations for Washington Gas. "Generous donations keep many of our neighbors warm during the coldest months of the year."

For 29 years, WAFF has assisted Washington area residents experiencing financial hardship, paying for all types of fuel to heat homes. The Salvation Army disburses funds raised to support WAFF and Washington Gas pays all administrative costs so every cent of every dollar goes toward helping a family in need.

"Each winter, many households have to choose between heating and eating," said Major Steve Morris, Area Commander, National Capital Area Command of The Salvation Army. "Any contribution, no matter the dollar amount, is extremely important to this program."

Since 1983, WAFF has disbursed $21.2 million, which has helped more than 247,000 people. For 2012, applications will be accepted at Washington-area Salvation Army offices Jan. 1 through May 31. Your donation will ensure no one is turned away. To learn how you can make a difference for a family in need and spread the warmth, visit washingtonareafuelfund.org.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., WGL Holdings, Inc. has four operating segments: (i) the regulated utility segment, which primarily consists of Washington Gas, a natural gas utility that serves over one million customers throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region; (ii) the retail energy-marketing segment which consists of Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc., a third-party marketer that competitively sells natural gas and electricity; (iii) the commercial energy systems segment, which consists of Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc., a provider of energy efficiency solutions to government and commercial clients and (iv) the wholesale energy solutions segment, which consists of Capitol Energy Ventures Corporation, a non-utility asset optimization business.

Additional information about WGL Holdings, Inc. is available on its website, wglholdings.com. Go to washingtongas.com for more information about Washington Gas Light Company.

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