AARP and PULP Comments on National Grid Joint Proposal

Agreement will help low-income Long Islanders get help with utility bills and improve assistance to NYC and LI customers with unpaid bills due to COVID-19

AARP New York and the Public Utility Law Project (PULP) released this statement on the Joint Proposal filed by National Grid in the company’s rate case for gas service in Brooklyn and Long Island:

“AARP and PULP believe the joint agreement between National Grid (KEDLI and KEDNY) and the Department of Public Service (DPS) staff was a successful attempt to lower the bill impacts that will affect gas customers living in Brooklyn and on Long Island.

“The Joint Proposal will help more low-income Long Island gas customers access the utility’s Energy Affordability Program (EAP). Currently, Long Island customers are enrolled in EAP at lower rates than customers in other parts of the State, including New York City.

“The Joint Proposal directs KEDLI to collaborate with the New York State Office of Temporary Disability Assistance (OTDA) and Nassau and Suffolk Counties to investigate an expanded file-matching mechanism for its EAP customers. AARP and PULP will participate in the collaborative meeting, and KEDLI will file a report with the Public Service Commission on the outcome of the discussions.

“As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of National Grid customers are behind on their utility bills. The Joint Proposal secures an agreement to address this crisis if the PSC does not determine a resolution by mid-September 2021, a first of its kind in New York State.

“The Joint Proposal requires KEDLI and KEDNY to expand language offerings to better serve its diverse customer base and ensure consumers are aware of the options and programs to help them. National Grid has also agreed to develop new trainings for their consumer advocates to implement a checklist of steps, jointly developed with PULP and AARP, to assist these customers.

“AARP and PULP are grateful that the joint proposal includes these important steps to help customers recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic.”