December 1, 2015
WALTHAM, Mass. – Just in time for the colder weather, National Grid today announced its gas heating customers in MA will see a nearly five percent drop in their total bill beginning December 1. This interim bill reduction - between $6 and $8 dollars per month for a typical residential customer heating their homes with natural gas - follows a reduction on November 1 of between $5 and $7, bringing the total winter bill down between $11 and $15 this season.
“As we head into the holiday season, we are happy to share this good news with our customers,” said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts. “While this additional savings certainly can help, we remain concerned about energy costs for our customers. We encourage everyone to continue taking advantage of balanced billing and energy saving tips.”
The bill reductions are estimates based on a typical residential natural gas customer usage. Two factors are contributing to the lower prices. The first is an anticipated drop in the cost of natural gas. The second is a credit to customers for the sale of excess gas supply during the warmer months.
While less expensive natural gas is helping to bring down costs for residential and commercial gas customers, New England needs additional gas pipeline capacity, particularly for the colder months, so that gas can continue to be delivered safely and reliably, especially as customer demand increases.
In addition, capacity constraints during the winter are causing electricity supply prices to rise as the region increasingly relies on natural gas for electricity generation. Customers who use gas to heat their homes and businesses are guaranteed use of existing pipeline capacity. Electric generators, however, pay market price for that pipeline capacity and in recent years have seen the market price rise and become volatile due to supply and demand.
National Grid continues to advocate for a balanced portfolio of energy resources, including large-scale affordable renewables, increased natural gas pipeline capacity and enhanced energy efficiency programs, as the key to securing New England’s long-term energy future and providing our residential and business customers with the stability they need.
National Grid has a three-decade history of helping New England customers realize energy savings through energy efficiency. Maintaining an efficient heating system is an important step in conserving energy. Have your heating system serviced once every two years by a licensed, qualified professional.
National Grid offers billing programs to help customers spread payments out more evenly across the year, which is particularly helpful to those on fixed incomes. Discounts are based on certain eligibility requirements. For more information about energy efficiency or the availability of these discounts, customers should visit www.ngrid.com/billhelp, contact National Grid at 1-800-322-3223 or contact their local energy assistance agency, Community Action Agency or state department of social services.
About National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.
Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).
For more information please visit our website, or our Connecting website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, find our photos on Instagram