Brooklyn & Hicksville, NY - January 29, 2016 - In order to continue meeting its customers’ energy needs now and in the future, National Grid filed rate proposals with the New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) to update and re-set its natural gas delivery rates for 2017 in New York City and Long Island for the first time in a decade. During 2016, the stable delivery rates that have been in effect since 2008 will remain in place.
The Company’s rate case proposals will allow it to continue investing in its natural gas networks and improve service to its 1.8 million customers in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island and Long Island/Rockaway Peninsula.
“National Grid has invested more than $4.5 billion over the past decade to modernize and build a safer and more reliable natural gas system for our customers. During this period of time, we have also maintained stable delivery rates for our customers,” said Ken Daly, President of National Grid, New York. “Now, as we respond to the need to invest even more into our aging gas networks and prepare for the future needs of our customers, the investments required to provide this service have increased. The proposals will allow us to accelerate our gas main replacement program, improve critical customer service, and ensure that we have a modernized and technologically advanced natural gas system for our customers and the communities we serve now and in the future.”
The rate case proposals will allow National Grid to:
To fund these investments, National Grid’s proposals seek a revenue increase of $245 million for its 1.2 million NYC customers and $142 million for its 570,000 Long Island customers. These revenue increases are required to provide safe and reliable customer service, and to provide funding for the costs and investments needed to modernize and grow the system to meet the needs of a 21st century economy.
The total proposed bill impact for a New York City typical residential heating customer is 14 percent or $13.98 per month and 12 percent or $13.40 per month for a Long Island/Rockaway Peninsula customer. These bill impacts are below inflation rates over the past decade. The effect on individual monthly bills will vary depending on natural gas usage and customer classification.
The proposed bill impacts are being mitigated to some extent by natural gas prices, which are at a 14-year low. The cost to heat a home with natural gas is currently at a 40-50 percent discount to competing fuels and is much cleaner from an environmental standpoint.
To help mitigate bill impacts, National Grid is offering to phase in the increases over the course of a multi-year rate plan.
The proposals will undergo a thorough review process by the NYSPSC that typically lasts 11 months. If approved, the new delivery charges would take effect on January 1, 2017.
For more information on National Grid’s rate case proposals, click here.
About National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.
Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).
For more information please visit their website, or their Connecting website, follow on Twitter, watch on YouTube, go on Facebook, find photos on Instagram