National Grid announced this week it will distribute a combined $1 million to some longstanding New England community partners, including the United Way of Central Massachusetts, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, the United Way of the Cape and Islands, and the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund, which will work with local community action program agencies to distribute the funds to customers this winter season.
This follows the announcement earlier this month that National Grid has committed $17 million to existing partners and networks across Massachusetts and New York to help customers and communities meet their needs during this financially challenging time.
National Grid announced our winter rates for Massachusetts gas and electric customers last month, becoming effective November 1st. The impacts of the global energy crisis will be felt across Massachusetts this winter and will create significant challenges for many of our customers. We felt it was important as a company to help our customers in need. This new grant funding is one of many ways we are committed to reaching across the state to provide support to our customers through both our Winter Customer Savings Initiative and Grid for Good activities.
This first round of grant funding, which is in addition to ongoing contributions and existing support, will assist customers in need. National Grid selected our United Way partners and the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund for this initial round of funding due to their longstanding commitment to helping meet the energy assistance needs of the communities they serve. National Grid estimates the grant funding will benefit thousands of customers in helping to pay energy bills across the communities we are privileged to serve.
National Grid customers can contact the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, call 211, and apply for grants from their local CAP agencies. Applications for assistance are open beginning November 1 and run through April 30, 2023.