National Grid: Winter Storm Update

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Thanks: Together We Made it Through the Storm A message to our Massachusetts customers We are dedicated to providing you with safe and reliable electricity and gas service. That goes for both blue-sky days and during emergency and storm events. We rely on weather forecasts in our preparations, and keep the safety of our customers and employees our highest priority. The early forecast for Juno, the blizzard of 2015, was a storm of potential historic proportions. Based on the high winds predicted, and our own storm modeling system, we prepared for widespread electric outages. And you responded as well. Many of you subscribed to receive our emails and text messages, downloaded our outage app, and followed us on Twitter and Facebook. The great news is the storm has passed through our territory with very little serious impact to the electric system. This speaks volumes to the millions of dollars in investments we've made in our infrastructure in recent years, and to the resiliency of our electric system to withstand wind gusts that reached over 60 mph. It also speaks loudly of the actions we all take together — National Grid and our customers — to get through storm events such as these, whatever the outcome. We'll no doubt experience extreme weather in the future given that it's becoming the new normal. The actions we all take today to prepare for these events will always be critical tomorrow — for the long-term safety and well being of our families, neighbors, businesses, and communities. We provide several ways for you to stay connected during a storm: • Customers can report outages, view outage maps and more on our Safety and Outage Reporting app. You can download it by searching for National Grid in the iTunes and GooglePlay stores • Join the over 115,000 customers who have already enrolled in broadcast text alerts for major storms. To register, text the word "STORM" to NGRID (64743) • Use your mobile device to track outage information and storm-related safety tips through National Grid's new mobile site accessible at www.nationalgrid.com • Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram where we post all the latest storm and restoration updates. Thank you for trusting us to keep you connected. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.   Connect Now Visit us online at nationalgrid.com

This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.

NationalGrid: Be Prepared for the Winter Storm

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Major Winter Storm A winter storm system will continue hitting our area with blizzard-like conditions including high winds, freezing temperatures and moderate coastal flooding. National Grid field crews and support personnel have been deployed in the event the weather causes damage to our region's electric system. We have increased staffing and field personnel and are ready to address any service issues that may arise from the storm. While storm preparations are important, so too is the safety of our customers and employees. Please exercise caution and keep a safe distance from crew work locations, especially when driving where visibility might be limited by snow. Here are some tips to help keep everyone informed and safe: • To report an outage, please call 1-800-465-1212, visit www.ngrid.com/juno or download our mobile app on the Apple iTunes or Droid stores. • Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps. Please make sure to have a good supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food and flashlight with batteries. • Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid by calling 1-800-465-1212. • If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, disconnect from National Grid's system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public. • If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. • Check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage period. • People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company's Customer Service Center at 1-800-322-3223. We'll continue to share safety tips, information on outages and any updates on restoration through @NationalGridUS on Twitter, Facebook.com/NationalGrid and ngrid.com/juno. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.   Connect Now Visit us online at nationalgrid.com

This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.

Why is my National Grid bill skyrocketing and what can I do about it?

From Brett Feldman:

Why is my National Grid bill skyrocketing and what can I do about it?

I've heard from a lot of people who have opened their winter National Grid bills and got extreme sticker shock. They are wondering what happened and how they can address it. I'm sorry I didn't write this sooner in the season when it could have been more helpful for this winter, but hopefully I can provide some short-term help, prevent people from making reactionary mistakes, and give some suggestions to better manage your energy costs in the long term.

A little history and background. National Grid is a regulated monopoly utility. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities controls how National Grid can charge its customers. Because energy is a volatile commodity, the DPU requires National Grid to procure electricity for its customers on a relatively long-term basis to reduce risk. Electricity prices actually change on a hourly basis, but National Grid purchases 6-month blocks at a fixed price. Sometimes this price might end up higher than the actual prices over that term, and sometimes it might be lower, but the idea is to lower the risk to the consumers. National Grid makes NO profit on this function.

nationalGRID

New England relies greatly on natural gas to fuel its power plants these days. We don't have any native sources of natural gas here, so we have to get it here by pipelines, and we are at the end of the pipeline. Pipelines have limited capacity, so if there is excessive demand due to cold weather, there can be a shortage and prices will spike. So even if natural gas prices in general are low, local congestion costs can increase our price. It's similar to gasoline prices being cheaper in Oklahoma and Texas than here because we need to transport it here, which adds costs.

This winter, electricity prices in New England were expected to increase dramatically based on the Polar Vortex last winter. Last winter, there was extremely cost weather, and real-time electricity prices spiked very high. So energy traders were concerned about a repeat this winter, and that risk premium was built in when National Grid bought its winter supply last fall. In reality, the weather hasn't been nearly as bad this winter and prices have not been as high. But last winter, National Grid locked in ahead of time at lower rates than what actually transpired, so we consumers actually saved money whether we realized it or not.

I hope that helps explain how we got here, and didn't just confuse you more.

In any case, what can you do now to deal with the high rates? I'll give you a few options.

1. Alternative Suppliers

Similar to how the airline and telecommunication industries were deregulated in the 1980s and 1990s, the energy industry has been deregulated as well. You will always have National Grid providing the physical delivery of electricity, but you can choose the financial supplier of your electricity. There are a number of suppliers listed on National Grid's website http://www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/home/energychoice/4_supplier_list.asp. 

Unfortunately there is no comparison site like Orbitz, so you have to check each one individually. They are not regulated by the DPU, so they can offer a range of options, from monthly pricing to long-term fixed price contracts.

Because I knew what was going to happen with the National Grid rates back in October, I locked in for the 6-month winter season for 7 cents with Provider Power. At this point, you won't find anything that low. I would advise against locking in for more than a few months now, because the National Grid rates almost always go down in the summer. 

See the history here http://www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/non_html/MA_Residential_Table.pdf. 

And next winter likely won't be as high as this winter since we are having a mild season and gas storage should be ok.

You can't just focus on the price, you also have to think about quantity. Most people use about twice as much electricity during summer months than winter due to air conditioning. So you don't want to lock in a higher rate in the summer, because it will cost you a lot more than the winter due to the higher volume.

2. Energy Efficiency

The cheapest energy is what you don't use, so energy efficiency is the best way to cut your bills. Get a free energy audit from National Grid http://www.masssave.com/.  

Mass save

They will give you CFL or LED lightbulbs and other tips like more insulation or more efficient heating and air conditioning equipment. Also, think about turning off lights and electronics when not in use, getting smart power strips that save energy, and turning down thermostats when possible. My house uses about half the electricity of a normal house our size because I have trained my kids to be light police.

3. Produce your own energy, like Solar

These days, you can take matters into your own hands as well by generating your own energy. The Franklin Solar Challenge http://solarflair.com/solarize/franklin-solar-challenge is currently underway to offer residents a vetted vendor and the best group pricing possible. The more homeowners and business that sign-up, the better price everyone gets. Plus, if we get a certain level of participation, our vendor will donate a solar array to a local non-profit or affordable housing unit. Everyone wins.

Franklin Solar Challenge

If you have good solar access on your roof, you can expect a 4-5 year payback. Otherwise, it may be 7-8 years. If that is too long or you don't have good solar access, you can still invest in Community Solar, which allows you to buy a piece of a solar array somewhere else but get the same financial benefit.

So don't feel helpless; there are actions you can take. I am happy to talk with anyone about more details. I have nothing to gain professionally, I just want to help my fellow residents (although maybe I could make a business out of it!).

Brett Feldman

Franklin Town Council

Navigant Consulting

17-year energy industry veteran

feldjamin@hotmail.com

NationalGrid: Recycle your second fridge or freezer and get $100!

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Get $100 for your second fridge or freezer through 2/15 Cleaning house doesn't have to wait until springtime. For a limited time only, get $100 just for recycling your second fridge or freezer. That's $50 more than the incentive we offer any other time of year! We'll even pick it up for free. Plus, you'll save up to $150 a year in electric costs. Hurry, this promotion ends February 15. Schedule Your Free Pickup >> Massachusetts residential electric customers of National Grid may qualify. The $100 rebate is good for working second refrigerators or freezers. Unit pickup must be scheduled between January 1, 2015 and February 15, 2015 for pickup by March 15, 2015. The unit must meet the size requirement of 10 cubic feet – 30 cubic feet. Savings and energy efficiency experiences may vary.

This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.

planned power outage for Bancroft Commons, Clarendon Commons, and Danforth Way

nationalGrid notified some Franklin area residents of a "planned power outage" to last approximately 14 hours on Thursday, Nov 20, 2014. If necessary, the outage may continue into Friday.

The notice was sent via mail to the residents of Bancroft Commons, Clarendon Commons, and Danforth Way.

A copy of the notice was posted to the official Franklin webpage here

screen capture of nationalGrid website

National Grid: Update on Winter Rates

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An Update on Winter Electric Rates As you may know, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities recently approved an increase for electric supply prices for the period of November 1 through April 30. This means that, starting in November, residential electric customers using 500 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month will see an electric bill that is 37 percent (about $33 per month) higher than last winter. We asked for this increase because of higher energy supply prices. Energy supply prices are set by the commodity market, not National Grid. When we purchase energy on your behalf, we pass on those costs directly without a markup. With the chance of another cold winter on the way, National Grid is very concerned about what these higher energy costs mean for our customers. And though we can't control energy supply prices, we can help in other ways, which is why we urge you to take advantage of the various solutions we offer that can help lower bills, including: Payment Options - We have a variety of options including our Budget Plan which lets you spread out those high winter bills over the course of a year. Payment Assistance - We have consumer advocacy programs to help low-income eligible customers pay their bill. Energy Efficiency - From simple no-cost tips to more comprehensive programs we have the energy saving solution to match your individual needs. We know how concerning this may be for customers and we encourage you to take advantage of these programs during this very difficult time. To learn more, please visit nationalgrid.com. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.   Connect Now Visit us online at nationalgrid.com

This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.

National Grid: Winter Storm Warning

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Winter storm warning National Grid crews are prepared for a winter storm bearing down on the Northeast region tonight and Wednesday, with the most severe weather predicted to occur Wednesday morning. Forecasts are calling for high winds, heavy, wet snowfall and possible ice accumulations along the New England coast that could damage trees and result in power outages. Flooding along coastal areas is also a concern and can cause interruptions in natural gas service. While we have additional crews and equipment resources to restore outages as swiftly as possible, we still advise customers to be prepared for service interruptions. It's a good idea to have a number of working flashlights, at least one battery-operated radio and an extra supply of batteries in your home. A radio is a good way to stay in touch, as National Grid provides news media with timely information regarding service restoration efforts. If you experience a power outage, you can report it in the Outage Central section of our website or by calling 1-800-465-1212. For more information on how you can stay safe, please visit our Storm Safety and Hypothermia pages. How you can stay informed before, during and after the storm In addition to radio reports, National Grid has a number of ways for you to stay connected and informed about service issues and interruptions during storms. You can receive text message alerts and updates by texting the word STORM to NGRID (64743) or follow the storm on your mobile devices by downloading the National Grid mobile app from GooglePlay or iTunes stores. And we also provide storm and restoration updates through Facebook and Twitter. Tips to weather the storm National Grid customers who experience outages should call National Grid's outage line at 1-800-465-1212 immediately to expedite restoration. People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company's Customer Service Center at 1-800-322-3223. Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid or your local emergency response organization. Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it's an especially good idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food. If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, disconnect from National Grid's system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public. NEVER burn wood or coal in an indoor area without proper venting. Portable gas and charcoal grills intended for outside use should never be used indoors, or even inside an open garage. NEVER use your gas range to heat your apartment or house. Your range's oven and top burners are designed to cook your food, NOT to heat your home. Prolonged use can reduce oxygen levels in the home and contribute to unusually excessive levels of carbon monoxide. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.   Connect Now Visit us online at ngrid.com/

This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.

NationalGrid: Winter Storm Warning

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Winter Storm Warning National Grid is preparing for yet another winter storm that is expected to bring freezing temperatures to our regions. Our crews and personnel are ready to respond should there be any outages. If you experience a power outage, you can report it by visiting our website or by calling 1-800-465-1212. While storm preparations are important, so too is the safety of our customers and employees. We would like to advise customers to be prepared as high winds, heavy snow and ice can pose a serious safety risk. With driving conditions expected to be potentially treacherous, we also urge particular caution when driving around crew work locations, especially where visibility might be limited by blowing snow. To ensure your safety, please make note of the following tips: Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid or your local emergency response organization. People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company's Customer Service Center at 1-800-322-3223. If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, disconnect from National Grid's system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public. Power outages can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it's an especially good idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food. Check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage period. We expect the extreme cold to linger over the next several days and want our customers to be aware of the dangers of cold stress or hypothermia. Cold stress, or hypothermia, occurs when exposure to extreme cold temperatures causes the body's temperature to fall below 95 degrees. Seek medical attention if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: Skin that is cool to the touch Violent shivering Difficulty in speaking or moving Slowed breathing Drowsiness Sudden change in appearance or behavior Puffy or swollen face Trembling in arm, leg or one side of body Cold and stiff muscles Difficulty with coordination and balance The following tips help to minimize potential cold stress: Dress properly Layer loose-fitting clothing Wear mittens instead of gloves Wear a hat and a scarf Avoid alcohol — it can increase your body's heat loss Remember that certain drugs can increase risk by affecting the body's ability to regulate its temperature Stay connected In addition to email alerts, National Grid offers a variety of ways to stay informed during the storm: Receive text message alerts and updates when you text the word STORM to NGRID (64743). Download the National Grid app which can be found in the Apple and GooglePlay stores. The app will allow you to report and check the status of your outage, view outage maps, access important safety tips and more. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram; we post all the latest storm and restoration updates. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.   Connect Now Visit us online at ngrid.com/

This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.