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National Grid Contributes $1 Million to Help Those Who Need it Most During this Winter Heating Season
National Grid Offers Expanded Energy Efficiency Programs in Upstate New York to Help Customers Manage Rising Natural Gas Prices

National Grid Contributes $1 Million to Help Those Who Need it Most During this Winter Heating Season

In anticipation of a challenging season for winter heating costs, National Grid is contributing $1 million to fuel assistance funds in New England and New York to help lessen the burden for those most in need.  

RHODE ISLAND:
In Rhode Island, the company will again provide $200,000 to The Good Neighbor Energy Fund. The Good Neighbor Energy Fund is available to any Rhode Islander who cannot meet a month's energy expense because of temporary financial difficulty and has not qualified for or received other energy assistance funds. The Fund has been operating for 23 years and is administered by The Salvation Army. The Fund aids qualified applicants whether or not they are National Grid customers, and regardless of which fuel they use to heat their homes.

For more information or to apply for assistance, Rhode Island residents should contact their local Community Action Agency or visit www.rigoodneighbor.org.  To contribute to the Fund, send a check payable to "Good Neighbor" to The Salvation Army at 756 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903. Contributions are tax deductible.

NEW YORK CITY AND LONG ISLAND:
“I applaud National Grid’s commitment to help New Yorkers as they prepare to face another cold winter," said Governor David A. Paterson. "In a time of economic crisis, companies such as National Grid set an example for how we all need to look out for our fellow citizens who have trouble making ends meet. I am particularly pleased to see the corporate and non-profit sectors partnering at this critical time."

The company will provide a total of $300,000 to the Neighborhood Heating Fund/HeartShare (Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island) and the United Way of Long Island’s Project Warmth.  These organizations provide heating assistance funds to qualified applicants whether or not they are National Grid customers, and regardless of which fuel they use to heat their homes.   

The Neighborhood Heating Fund was created in 1983 and is administered by HeartShare Human Services of New York. Eligibility for assistance is based on New York State HEAP income guidelines. For information on how to donate or for funding application locations, call the Neighborhood Heating Fund Info line at 1-718-422-4200.  

Project Warmth is a community-based partnership between National Grid, local businesses, and not-for-profit agencies. It is designed to help Long Island families suffering from recent financial hardships to meet their heating needs. For further information, call Project Warmth at Long Island’s United Way at 1-631-940-3757.

UPSTATE NEW YORK:
In upstate New York, the company will provide $275,000 to The Care & Share Energy Fund. The Care & Share Energy Fund, managed by the American Red Cross, helps individuals and households who are facing difficult financial situations with nowhere else to turn for emergency energy assistance. The program serves households in which a member is 60 or older, or is disabled and receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability, or is experiencing a medical emergency. To determine eligibility for the Care & Share program, heating customers should contact or visit the nearest American Red Cross chapter office.

The fund aids qualified applicants whether or not they are National Grid customers, and regardless of which fuel they use to heat their homes. This contribution is in addition to more than $3 million in incremental funding that National Grid already committed to provide to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to expand programs that specifically target income-eligible natural gas customers this winter.

NEW HAMPSHIRE:
In anticipation of a challenging season for winter heating costs, National Grid is contributing $25,000 to the Community Action Agencies in its New Hampshire service territory. Southern New Hampshire Services will administer the funds to customers eligible for fuel assistance. For more information on how to help or apply for assistance, please check the Stay Warm NH web site at www.StayWarmNH.org or call 211 to reach the United Way help line. 

MASSACHUSETTS:
In Massachusetts, the company will provide $200,000 to The Good Neighbor Energy Fund. For the past 24 years, the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund has provided energy assistance to hundreds of thousands of residents in temporary crisis who are struggling to pay their energy bills and do not qualify for federal or state energy funds. A cooperative effort between sponsoring Massachusetts energy companies (including National Grid), The Salvation Army and caring neighbors throughout the Commonwealth, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund has raised over
$15.5 million and assisted nearly 72,000 families with a month's energy expense since its inception in 1985. The fund provides assistance to qualified applicants whether or not they are National Grid customers and regardless of which heating fuel they use.  For more information, visit www.magoodneighbor.orgor call the Salvation Army (if you live in Eastern Massachusetts, call 1-800-334-3047; if you live in Western Massachusetts, call 1-800-262-1320). All contributions are tax deductible.

There are several other programs to help customers manage their energy costs. 

Billing Options – National Grid’s budget billing program helps to spread payments out more evenly across the year. This is particularly helpful to those on fixed incomes. Visit www.nationalgridus.com for more information.

Applying for Special Assistance Programs – Help is available for customers who have difficulty paying their heating bills. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides financial assistance to income-eligible applicants. Households receiving public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, or food stamps are the most likely to be eligible for LIHEAP. This federal program opens in November and is available on a first-come, first-served basis to all utility customers. Customers who believe they may qualify are urged to call their local Community Action Agency for more information.

National Grid Offers Expanded Energy Efficiency Programs in Upstate New York to Help Customers Manage Rising Natural Gas Prices

National Grid has added and expanded several energy efficiency programs in upstate New York that can help customers manage the forecast for increased market prices for natural gas this winter heating season, and beyond.

“Natural gas prices are close to historically high levels and customers should expect prices to continue to be volatile,” said Susan M. Crossett, Vice President of Energy Solutions Services in upstate New York for National Grid. “Taking steps to use energy more efficiently is one guaranteed way to reduce costs.”

Current market conditions suggest the cost of natural gas for National Grid customers in upstate New York will be about 11 percent higher than last year. The company cautions that customer bills can also be impacted by weather conditions. If temperatures fall below average levels, customers may use more natural gas. In the end, market prices, a customer’s natural gas usage, and weather will determine actual costs.

In September, National Grid received approval from the New York Public Service Commission for five natural gas energy efficiency programs that can help upstate New York customers save energy costs and reduce environmental impact. These programs, together with existing programs through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and other energy efficiency measures, can assist customers with increased natural gas costs this winter.

Current residential efficiency programs include incentives for installation of high-efficiency natural gas space heating and water heating equipment, as well as rebates for specific ENERGY STAR® products used to decrease natural gas use. Plus, a high-efficiency heating and water heating program is available for commercial customers.

National Grid will continue to work with NYSERDA for services for its low-income customers, including incentives for installing wall and attic insulation, air sealing measures, space heating replacements, and water heating system repairs and replacements.

At last year’s commodity prices, a typical residential customer who would ordinarily use 867 therms during a normal heating season (November to April) would have paid about $1,063 during the six-month period. At this winter’s projected commodity prices, the same amount of usage would cost about $1,181. (Actual average usage last year was 791 therms.)

Crossett noted that in addition to commodity prices, there are two other components of a customer’s natural gas bill, delivery prices and transportation costs, both of which will remain stable this winter. 

Delivery prices reflect the costs to bring the gas directly to customers, maintain the local gas network, and provide emergency response and customer service. Those costs, directly within National Grid’s control, have been unchanged for heating customers since 1996 and will remain so during the upcoming winter.

Transportation costs, charged to National Grid by others, reflect the cost of moving the gas from where it is produced to National Grid’s local gas network. Those prices also have been stable the last few years.

National Grid continues to communicate its energy-efficiency messages to customers through bill newsletters, customer meetings, media interviews, web site information, news releases, public meetings, and mailings.

Steps customers should consider include:

Energy Conservation – This would include installing sufficient insulation and weather stripping and having appliances inspected (especially furnaces and water heaters). It also includes changing furnace filters regularly and considering purchasing a programmable thermostat.

Billing Options – National Grid’s budget billing program is a convenient payment plan that helps to spread payments out more evenly across the year.  This is particularly helpful to individuals on fixed incomes.

Applying for Special Assistance Programs – Help is available for customers who have difficulty paying their heating bills. As part of its new energy efficiency programs, National Grid will provide the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) with over $3 million in incremental funding to expand programs that specifically target income-eligible natural gas customers this winter. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides financial assistance to income-eligible applicants.  Households receiving public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, or food stamps are the most likely to be eligible for LIHEAP. This federal program opens in November and is available on a first-come, first-served basis to all utility customers. Customers who believe they may qualify are urged to call the
New York State Office for the Aging in their county or their county Department of Social Services for more information.

Replacing Aging Appliances – Newer natural gas furnaces use fuel more efficiently. High-efficiency units may cost more to buy, but they will save money in the long run, and now with National Grid’s rebate program, are more affordable.

Learning About Energy Smart Programs – NYSERDA has a number of New York Energy Smart programs that can help improve a home’s energy efficiency. For more information on NYSERDA’s Programs, visit www.getenergysmart.org.

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