As Massachusetts Enters the Heart of Winter, National Grid Requests Reduction in Natural Gas Rates

WALTHAM, MA (01/24/2012)(readMedia)-- National Grid announced today that its Massachusetts natural gas customers can look forward to a reduction in their natural gas bill for the remainder of this winter season. The reduction would be the result of a filing by National Grid with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to lower the cost of natural gas by up to 10 percent for usage effective February 1, 2012, pending DPU approval.

If approved, residential customers using 160 therms per month will experience a decrease of approximately $12 per month, or roughly six percent, of their total gas bill.

The proposed decrease is the result of lower commodity prices. Typically, there are two parts of a customer's natural gas bill – supply and delivery costs. Delivery prices reflect the costs to bring the gas directly to customers, maintain the local gas network and provide emergency response and customer service. Supply costs, which make up the majority of a customer's bill, include the cost of the commodity itself. When that number is lowered, it is passed on directly to National Grid's customers without markup.

Use Energy Wisely

National Grid always encourages customers to use energy efficiently and encourages customers to log on to www.nationalgrid.com to learn how to:

• Implement simple low-cost or no-cost energy conservation methods
• Convert from oil to gas heat
• Take advantage of National Grid energy efficiency programs in their region

National Grid has a more than 20-year track record of successful, award-winning efficiency programs in the U.S., many available to Massachusetts customers. Customers can also realize savings on their energy bills through company supported energy assistance programs and products.

Payment Plans and Assistance

Qualified customers can also sign up for the National Grid Budget Plan to spread the balance of their energy bills over a period of several months. To learn more about the Budget Plan, go to www.nationalgrid.com, click on Massachusetts under "Natural Gas."

Customers who are having trouble paying their bills should call National Grid at 800-233-5325 to speak with a representative about addressing overdue balances and setting up a payment program.

National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it 'joins everything up'.

In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. It manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

For more information please visit our website http://www.nationalgridus.com or Outage Central

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