National Grid Renews Residential Natural Gas Energy Efficiency Program for Upstate New York Customers

ALBANY, NY (10/05/2010)(readMedia)-- National Grid is helping customers reduce their environmental impact and their energy bills with the renewal of its residential natural gas energy efficiency program that provides rebates for energy saving equipment in the home.

Due to the overwhelming response to this program last year, National Grid exhausted its funding for the initiative last spring, but has received additional funding to renew the program.

"As a result of last year's response to this program, we have established a rebate reservation list this year," said Lisa Tallet, manager of residential energy efficiency programs for New York State. "Our web site will update so customers can see how much funding is available in the program when they apply."

All customers must reserve incentive funding by completing the online rebate reservation.

"National Grid is committed to providing its customers efficiency programs that can reduce energy usage and energy costs," Tallet said. "These programs are one way the company is providing unparallel customer service and supporting the state's overall commitment to sustainable and efficiency energy future."

There are some changes to the rebate programs from the programs that were offered late last year and early this year:

• $140: High-efficiency natural gas furnace (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency 90% or greater)

• $280: High-efficiency natural gas furnace (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency 92% or greater) with an electronically-controlled motor

• $420: High-efficiency natural gas furnace (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency 94% or greater) with an electronically-controlled motor

• $350: Water boiler (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency 85% or greater)

• $560: Water boiler (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency 90% or greater)

• $350: Steam boiler with electric ignition (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency 82% or greater)

• $70: Boiler reset control (Installed by a contractor at the time of a qualifying boiler installation.)

• $210: Indirect water heater (Installed by a contractor at the time of a qualifying boiler installation. An indirect water heater uses the main boiler to heat a fluid that is circulated through a heat exchanger in a water storage tank.)

• $18 for a programmable thermostat installed by a contractor. Limit for this rebate is two per customer.

• $420: Duct sealing (Installed by a contractor at the time of a qualifying furnace or boiler replacement.)

National Grid has a 20-year track record of providing award-winning energy efficiency programs throughout its U.S. service territory that help customers use less energy and reduce their energy bills. Recently, National Grid introduced the 3% less energy campaign which enables customers to join National Grid in pledging to reduce energy consumption by three percent every year for the next ten years. Customers can take the 3% pledge, participate in a free energy evaluation, and learn more about the company's energy efficiency programs at www.powerofaction.com.

Funding for this program is limited and the program is subject to close when all funding has been awarded.

These rebate programs are being offered in accordance with the New York State Public Service Commission's (PSC) Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) efficiency programs for natural gas utilities across the state. The programs are funded through the systems benefit charge appearing on all natural gas customers' bills.

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

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