Dominion's EnergyShare program is accepting applications from people who need financial help to stay warm during the winter.

Supported by donations from the Richmond-based utility's customers and employees, EnergyShare helps people experiencing unemployment or other financial problems heat their homes after other forms of assistance have been exhausted. Payments on behalf of the recipients go directly to the energy vendors.

Dominion Virginia Power chief executive Paul Koonce says more than $7 million in EnergyShare donations helped more than 15,000 households last year.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.