Winter Is Coming: Heating Assistance Programs in Upstate New York Available for Income-Qualified Customers

The calendar doesn't lie. Winter is almost here.

National Grid understands that staying safe and warm during the cold-weather months can be a challenge for customers experiencing difficulty affording their energy usage. Using less and saving more is the underlying message behind the company's Here For You affordability campaign. The dedicated website highlights bill management programs, energy efficiency solutions and more to ensure customers can take advantage of all available services and tools to help them save money on winter energy bills.

Affordability Programs for Low-Income Customers

The primary affordability program for income-eligible customers is the Home Energy Assistance Program, which opened Nov. 1. The program funds, available on a first-come, first-served basis, provide financial assistance for home heating costs as well as emergency funds for eligible households experiencing a heating or heat-related emergency. HEAP is not a loan; it's a benefit available to customers who meet specific eligibility requirements. Customers are urged to apply as soon as possible, as program dates may be shortened or extended based on federal funding and demand. HEAP programs include:

• Regular HEAP, which opened on Nov. 1 and is scheduled to run through the spring, or until funds are exhausted. Qualification is based on household size and income. Apply online for Regular HEAP at mybenefits.ny.gov or through your HEAP Local District Contact. Customers 60 or older can apply through their county's Office for the Aging.
• Emergency HEAP is scheduled to open on January 2, 2025. Qualification is also based on household size and income. To apply, customers must have their service disconnected, be disconnect-eligible or have a utility shut-off notice. National Grid customers requiring electricity to operate heating systems can apply for a Domestic Electric Emergency HEAP grant. Customers must apply by telephone or in person through a HEAP Local District Contact. Customers 60 or older can apply through their county's Office for the Aging.

Additionally, HEAP has Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement and Clean and Tune benefits to ensure that New Yorkers have safe and functioning heat sources. These programs opened on Oct. 1.

• Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement: Homeowners who need to repair or replace their furnace, boiler or other direct heating equipment necessary for keeping their home's primary heating source working may qualify for financial support based on their household size and income. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost to repair or replace the equipment and provide up to $4,000 for a repair or $8,000 for a replacement.
• Clean and Tune: This benefit covers cleaning and maintenance of a home's primary heating equipment and may also include chimney cleaning or installation of programmable thermostats to ensure safe and efficient operation of heating equipment in the home. Benefits are based on the actual cost of service, up to $500, and specific criteria must be met to qualify.

Customers should inquire by telephone or in person through your HEAP Local District Contact.

National Grid Funded Programs

Customers receiving Regular HEAP are automatically enrolled in National Grid's Energy Affordability Program, or EAP. This program provides monthly bill credits above and beyond what the customer receives from HEAP. Customers may also qualify for the EAP by participating in qualifying programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, qualifying veterans' pensions, or Native American benefit programs administered by federal or tribal governments. To learn more about the program and eligibility, or to apply, call 1-866-305-1915 or email [email protected].

National Grid's Care and Share fuel fund is administered by HeartShare Human Services of New York. The program, which opens in February, provides an annual $200 grant to National Grid customers who meet HEAP guidelines and have exhausted their HEAP allocation for the year. For information on the program, call 1-855-852-2736 or visit the organization's website at heartshare.org.

In 2022, National Grid was the first energy delivery company in New York State to provide assistance to low-to-moderate income customers by introducing the Hope & Warmth Energy Fund and Hearts Fighting Hunger programs. These programs, also administered by HeartShare Human Services, are currently open and customers can learn more about applying by calling 1-855-852-2736 or visiting heartshare.org.

The Hope & Warmth Energy Fund provides emergency financial assistance to National Grid's vulnerable customers who have a household income above the HEAP eligibility guidelines and are having difficulty paying their heat-related energy bills. Eligible customers will qualify for a grant of up to $500, depending on heating source, during the winter-heating season. To qualify, an applicant must:

1. Reside in a residential home or apartment.
2. Have an active National Grid account in their name.
3. Meet NYSERDA's EmPower+ low- to moderate-income program eligibility guidelines.
4. Either be ineligible for Regular HEAP or have not received it this season.
5. Have an outstanding account balance of at least $1.

Hearts Fighting Hunger offers one-time emergency food assistance in the form of a $300 grocery store gift card/food voucher to eligible National Grid New York customers with a past-due account. Customers who receive Regular HEAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are not eligible for this program. To qualify for Hearts Fighting Hunger, applicants must:

1. Reside in a residential home or apartment.
2. Have an active National Grid account in their name.
3. Meet NYSERDA's EmPower+ low- to moderate-income program eligibility guidelines.
4. Either be ineligible for Regular HEAP or have not received it this season.
5. Have an outstanding account balance of at least $1.

Bill management programs are available and may assist all National Grid customers during the winter heating season. Customers can take advantage of the company's Budget Billing Plan, which spreads customer energy costs evenly over 12 months to make payments more predictable and mitigate months of higher usage. Additional payment options are available at www.ngrid.com/discount.

Energy Savings for Every Budget

Did you know that you can save 1% on your annual heating cost for every degree you lower your thermostat? You can learn about no- and low-cost energy savings solutions that are as simple as flipping a switch by visiting our website. Customers looking to replace their home or water heating equipment can also find information about money saving rebates provided by the company, instant rebates on the purchase of smart or programmable thermostats and our ConnectedSolutions program, which incentivizes lowering your thermostat on peak usage days.

Consumer Advocates and Information Available in Multiple Languages

Some customers need a little extra help and that's where our Consumer Advocates come in. These professionals work one-on-one with customers experiencing financial difficulties and help them find affordability solutions during the winter and all year long. Since March 2022, National Grid's consumer advocates have provided assistance to more than 16,000 New York households.

This team, which includes Spanish-speaking Consumer Advocates, can be reached at 1-800-642-4272 or by emailing [email protected]. In addition, translation services are available by phone for more than 120 languages and dialects.

Spanish and Chinese speaking customers may now find the cost-saving and energy efficiency resources in their favored language at ngrid.com/hereforyou. Translation to more than 60 languages is available on National Grid's website by visiting nationalgridus.com, scrolling to the bottom of the page and choosing from the Select Languages dropdown box.

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