National Grid & National Grid Foundation Give $1.4 Million Towards Heating Assistance Funds
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National Grid and the National Grid Foundation announced Tuesday morning both organizations have made a joint contribution of $1.4 million dollars to help support their low-income and emergency heating programs. Those programs are the Care & Share Energy Fund and the Neighborhood Heating Fund.
The recent announcement, National Grid says, comes following recent interruptions of regular Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) within the state. Funds from HEAP were exhausted back on January 21st due to higher than normal enrollments within the program. Four days later, on January 24th, the Governor reallocated unused funds in the state to extend the program.
National Grid’s investments in additional funds and enhanced grants were lauded by the Public Utility Law Project, a consumer advocacy group. “PULP commends National Grid for raising awareness about its Care & Share Energy Fund and Neighborhood Heating Fund – important programs that provide financial assistance to low-income households struggling to afford their winter heating bills,” said Laurie Wheelock, PULP’s executive director and counsel. “With the Home Energy Assistance Program temporarily closing and reopening in January, protective measures like these are essential to ensuring New York’s most vulnerable households can stay safe and warm. We also appreciate National Grid’s commitment to supporting the low-income community by increasing the award amount from $200 to $500 during these cold and uncertain times.”
Funding will allow the company’s two emergency heating funds to provide enhanced grants of $500, up from $200, to active National Grid customers in Upstate New York and New York City that have exhausted their HEAP allocations for the year.
National Grid’s Care & Share Energy Fund provides emergency financial assistance for those who are income eligible and who are having a difficult time paying their heat-related energy bills within National Grid’s service area in Upstate New York. The program is administered by HeartShare Human Services, which will remain open until funds are exhausted. To qualify for the assistance, applicants must:
Have an active National Grid account in their name.
Have a household income that meets Home Energy Assistance Program guidelines.
Have exhausted all available HEAP assistance at the time of application.
More information may be found via HeartShare’s website, HERE.
