THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, August 3, 1995               TAG: 9508020177
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN              PAGE: 20   EDITION: FINAL 
DATELINE: SUFFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   28 lines

GAS COMPANY TO CLOSE OFFICE; BILLS CAN BE PAID AT LOCAL STORES

The Virginia Natural Gas Co. customer service office at 130 Commerce St. will close Oct. 1, but customers still may pay their bills locally at grocery stores and pharmacies.

VNG Suffolk District Manager Jim Bondurant said ``outsourcing'' payment collection to neighborhood stores is the trend now among utility companies. About 25 percent of Suffolk's 3,900 customers pay their bills at the customer service office.

The company's three customer service employees will be transferred to either the Newport News or Norfolk office, said Bondurant.

Customers may pay their bills at the following locations:

Be-Lo Stores at 569 E. Constance Road, 813 W. Constance Road and 612 Carolina Highway.

Joseph P. Hall Drug Co., 121 W. Washington St.

Farm Fresh, 1401 Main St.

For more information, call 539-2376. by CNB