National Grid : State Regulators Approve National Grid's Upstate New York Rate Agreement

Published: 2022-01-20 14:41:05 ET NG.L

The New York State Public Service Commission today approved a three-year rate agreement for National Grid's upstate New York customers that minimizes bill impacts, enhances energy affordability programs, targets key infrastructure investments to promote a cleaner, more resilient energy delivery system, and advances New York's renewable energy and emissions reductions goals. The agreement, which is effective Feb. 1, was reached with Department of Public Service Staff, IBEW Local 97, commercial and industrial customers, the New York Power Authority, and other parties.

"Our three-year investment plan reflects the input of a broad range of stakeholders and is an important step forward in advancing New York's clean energy future," said Bryan Grimaldi, National Grid's vice president of New York Corporate Affairs. "We worked hard to strike a balance between prioritizing customer energy affordability and ensuring resiliency - especially in light of the record number of damaging storms we've seen in upstate New York - while deferring other programs and initiatives that would add to our customers' bills."

Grimaldi noted that, as part of the agreement, National Grid has committed to delivering a portfolio of programs that focus on energy efficiency, heating alternatives, and new technologies to help customers manage their energy use across the company's 25,000-square-mile upstate New York service area. The agreement also offers new programs to support economically vulnerable customers and provides for an unprecedented set of commitments to advance New York's climate goals and reduce emissions.

Under the terms of the three-year agreement, average residential electricity customers who use 600 kilowatt-hours a month would see monthly bill increases of $1.88 in the first year, $1.88 in year two and $2.23 in year three. Average residential gas customers who use 82 therms a month would see monthly bill increases of $1.51 in the first year, $2.37 in year two and $2.56 in year three.

Among customer benefits included in the agreement:

A Continued Commitment to Supporting Customers and Communities

Investments to Support Customer Reliability & Continued Strong Storm Response

A Continued Commitment to Net Zeroand the Clean Energy Future

Significant increases in additional clean energy solutions, including:

National Grid's previous gas and electricity rate plans expired March 30, 2021. Aproposal for new delivery rates was originally due in April 2020 but, given the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company decided to delay that filing until June 30, 2020. Subsequently, the company's proposal underwent thorough regulatory review with opportunities for public input, as well as nine months of negotiations with a broad range of stakeholders that led to the joint settlement agreement, which was submitted for approval on Sept. 27, 2021. The approved plan will run through June 30, 2024.

Disclaimer

National Grid plc published this content on 20 January 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 20 January 2022 19:40:06 UTC.