NATIONAL GRID LAUNCHES EMERGENCY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS HIT HARDEST BY MOHAWK VALLEY FLOODING Company Announces $2 Million in Economic Development Aid for Local Businesses; Aid Will Help Customers Restore and Rebuild July 23, 2013 – As communities across the Mohawk Valley continue to recover from recent floods, National Grid today is launching a support program that could bring $2 million in economic development aid to businesses in the hardest hit areas. Thousands of National Grid’s electric and natural gas customers across the Mohawk Valley, especially in the hardest hit areas from the Oneida region east to Fort Plain, had their services impacted due to flood waters that compromised basements, weakened or damaged foundations, and compromised electrical panels, furnaces and other end-use equipment. Many of these customers were local businesses where rebuilding quickly is crucial to economic recovery in the area. The company restored electric and gas service to most of the affected customers, although many could not be safely connected as a result of damage to customer-owned equipment. "When we saw the devastation caused by the flooding in the Mohawk Valley and completed the electric and gas restoration, we knew that much more was needed to reconnect the equipment of the impacted customers," said Ken Daly, National Grid President, New York State. "We will be part of the long-term recovery efforts in the region -- and help rebuild these communities -- just as we did after Hurricanes Irene and Sandy." National Grid’s Emergency Economic Development Program is designed to provide assistance to communities and businesses who need short-term support, and will complement funding allocated to communities and businesses through federal and state/city programs, insurance or other emergency sources. National Grid submitted the relief proposal to the New York State Public Service Commission last week. “The Public Service Commission did comprehensive review of our proposal, and we are very pleased that they saw fit to take such quick action,” Daly said in response to approval of the program. Program funding is available within the entire designated disaster area in National Grid’s service area in the Mohawk Valley, but is targeted to those customers, businesses, and communities most impacted by flooding. The program is designed to support vulnerable customers, and encourage job retention in heavily impacted communities. A summary of the program follows: Business Program · Provides emergency grants of up to $50,000 to commercial, industrial and agri-business customers in the most heavily impacted areas, to help offset the costs of reconstructing buildings and restoring business activity. · Program funds can be used for energy infrastructure repair and/or replacement, construction, renovation and rehabilitation of eligible buildings. · Customer applications must be reviewed and endorsed by a state, regional or local economic development agency that is familiar with both the customer’s application and National Grid’s program requirements. · National Grid’s proposal aims to fill financial gaps remaining after federal and/or state programs, insurance and other emergency sources of dollars have been utilized. National Grid will make funds available in 2013 to ensure that business customers needs can either be met immediately or addressed as the specific need becomes more apparent. The new proposal calls for additional funding to support the emergency programs should the need exceed existing National Grid economic development program resources. Communities and businesses in eligible counties can get more detailed information on the application process and apply for funding by visiting ngrid/floodrelief and clicking on Upstate New York. The Mohawk Valley program is similar to an effort National Grid launched in the wake of damage caused by Hurricanes Sandy and Irene, and tropical storm Lee. As the recovery effort continues, safety remains a primary concern. An expedited process for re-connections is being communicated directly to affected customers, including the process for required safety inspections before services can be restored. While crews make repairs and help customers assess damage, it is important that customers take appropriate safety precautions with both electric and gas services and equipment during and after any flooding situations. National Grid contact information for emergencies is: · All gas emergencies or odor of gas present: 1-800-892-2345 · To report electric outages or downed wires: 1-800-867-5222 · General questions about safety and service: 1-800-642-4272 · Call before you dig: dial 811 or 1-800-962-7962 About 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 more than 3 million customers in Massachusetts, 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 more than 3 million customers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 16:42:10 +0000
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