As temperatures drop and heating bills begin their annual climb, National Grid is bringing some help directly to Worcester residents who may be worried about keeping their homes warm without breaking the bank.
The utility company hosts three free customer assistance events in Worcester during November, giving residents an opportunity to meet face-to-face with company representatives, review their bills and learn about programs that could reduce their energy costs.
The events coincide with the Nov. 1 launch of a revised income-based discount program that will offer six levels of assistance to eligible Massachusetts gas and electric customers.
The first two Worcester sessions will take place Monday, Nov. 2, and Monday, Nov. 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Worcester Community Action Council, 18 Chestnut St., Suite 500.
A third event is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Saxe Room at the Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square.
All three events are free and open to the public.
National Grid customer advocates will be available to help residents understand their bills, explore financial assistance options and determine whether they qualify for programs designed to make energy costs more manageable. The timing is particularly relevant as Massachusetts households prepare for another winter of heating expenses, when the cost of natural gas, electricity and heating oil can strain household budgets.
Although National Grid’s assistance programs apply to its gas and electric customers, rather than households that heat exclusively with oil, the events are part of a broader effort to help residents manage rising energy expenses.
A central focus is on the company’s new Tiered Discount Rate Program, which takes effect Nov. 1.
Under the revised structure, eligible customers qualify for one of six discount levels based on factors including household size, gross annual income and participation in qualifying public benefit programs.
The program is available to both National Grid electric and natural gas customers in Massachusetts.
The new structure replaces a one-size-fits-all approach with varying levels of assistance intended to better reflect customers’ financial circumstances. The announcement, however, does not specify the discount percentages for each tier or the income limits used to determine eligibility.
National Grid said it was the first utility in Massachusetts to propose and implement a tiered income-based discount for electric customers and subsequently sought to extend that approach to natural gas customers. The new structure has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.
“We’re proud to have been the first utility in Massachusetts to propose and implement a tiered income-based discount for electric customers and are now extending that approach to our gas customers,” Bill Malee, National Grid’s chief customer officer, said in the company’s Oct. 28 announcement.
“As tiered discounts become available statewide, we’ll add an important tool to improve affordability and help make energy bills more manageable for customers who need support most. Through our recurring monthly customer assistance events and webinars, we’re also able to connect directly with customers, understand their individual needs, and help them navigate the programs and resources available to them.”
The Worcester sessions will also provide information about other bill-management options, including National Grid’s 12-month Budget Plan, which spreads energy costs across the year to help customers avoid dramatic seasonal swings in their monthly payments.
While budget billing does not necessarily reduce the total amount owed, it can make expenses more predictable, particularly during the winter months when heating demand is highest.
Customers can also learn about available financial assistance programs and tools to monitor and manage their energy consumption.
The Worcester events are part of a larger series of customer assistance sessions being held across Massachusetts throughout November, with stops in communities ranging from the Berkshires to the North Shore.
Central Massachusetts events outside Worcester include a Nov. 4 session at SMOC Marlborough Human Services, 255 W. Main St., Marlborough, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; a Nov. 12 event at Leominster City Hall, 25 West St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and a Nov. 18 session at the Uxbridge Senior Center, 36 S. Main St., from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
For residents unable to attend an in-person session, National Grid will host a statewide Fall Customer Bill Assistance webinar Monday, Nov. 30, from noon to 1 p.m.
The virtual session covers assistance programs, energy-saving resources and strategies for managing bills during the winter heating season. A recording will be shared with registered participants who cannot attend live, according to the utility.
National Grid also offered an Oct. 28 webinar focused on smart meters and digital tools that allow customers to monitor their electricity usage.
Customers seeking assistance can visit ngrid.com/hereforyou to learn more about available programs or call National Grid customer service at 800-233-5325.
With winter approaching, the Worcester sessions offer residents a chance to find out what assistance is available before the coldest months — and potentially the highest bills — arrive.
