This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Energy Assistance Options Available For National Grid Customers During Winter Months

Customers May Qualify for Federal Heating Assistance, Discounted Low-Income Rate

With winter in full swing, National Grid reminds customers that applications are still being accepted for the federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides income-eligible families assistance in paying their energy bills.

LIHEAP payments vary depending on household income, household composition and heating fuel costs in relation to income. If a household receives public assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or food stamps, the household will most likely be eligible for LIHEAP benefits. If a household is not receiving public assistance, it still may be eligible if the gross monthly household income is at or below income guidelines based on household size.

Find out what's happening in North Kingstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Since LIHEAP funding is limited, customers who feel they may qualify for the funds should contact LIHEAP immediately. The LIHEAP application process varies by state.

 

Find out what's happening in North Kingstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • In Massachusetts, LIHEAP is also known as Fuel Assistance and is managed by the Department of Housing and Community Development in conjunction with 22 regional nonprofit and local government organizations. To find out more, interested individuals can call 800-632-8175 or visit www.mass.gov/dhcd

 

  • In Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Department of Human Services oversees low-income heating assistance. If you have any questions about the LIHEAP program, please visit www.energy.ri.gov.

 

This year the National Grid Foundation donated $385,000 to heating assistance funds in New York and New England, including donations of $90,000 to United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and $70,000 to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence heating assistance program in January. National Grid donated another $800,000 to heating funds this year, for total donations of approximately $1.2 million between the company and the National Grid Foundation. Since 2005, the company and the Foundation have made heating fund donations that exceed $9 million.

There are several other programs available to National Grid customers to help manage energy costs:

 

  • Low-income discount rate – Discount rates are available to many National Grid electricity and/or natural gas customers, based on service area and certain eligibility requirements. For more information about availability of low-income rates and to determine eligibility, customers should contact National Grid or their local energy assistance agency, Community Action Agency or state department of social services.

 

  • Billing Options – National Grid has billing programs to help customers spread payments out more evenly across the year, which are particularly helpful to those on fixed incomes. Visit www.nationalgridus.com for more information on this and other payment programs.

 

 

About National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it ‘joins everything up’.

In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country. 

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

For more information, please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com

Follow us on Twitter, Watch us on You Tube, Friend us on Facebook, Find our photos on Instagram.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?