National Grid to Lift Natural Gas Moratorium Immediately for Customers in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island

BROOKLYN/HICKSVILLE, N.Y. – National Grid today announced that it has reached an agreement with the State of New York to immediately resume connecting natural gas service to customers in Brooklyn, Queens and on Long Island for approximately the next two years.  National Grid will therefore proceed to connect those customer applications put on hold due to the moratorium and start processing all new applications.  In addition, National Grid will offer $7 million in customer assistance to address hardships as a result of the moratorium.

For months, National Grid has been working to identify new, innovative and unprecedented solutions to safely and reliably serve customers this winter and next and has agreed to a plan with the State that includes:

• Significantly enhanced demand response;
• Energy efficiency programs to reduce the demand for natural gas at peak times;
• And increasing reliance on portable compressed natural gas.

National Grid has also agreed to $8 million for new energy efficiency, gas conservation measures designed to relieve stress on the system and reduce peak-day gas usage during this two-year period.

To accelerate ongoing efforts to scale affordable renewable energy technologies to meet the State’s long-term energy supply needs, National Grid will invest $20 million in clean energy projects and businesses in New York.

“Every decision we make is driven by National Grid’s commitment to provide safe and reliable service to our customers, including the decision to implement the moratorium.  We understand the frustrations of everyone who experienced a delay in service during this period and regret that we did not provide more notice or explanation to our customers about the moratorium,” said Badar Khan, Interim President, National Grid U.S.  “We appreciate the opportunity to work with the Governor’s office and the Department of Public Service to address these challenging issues.”

Within three months, the company will present options to meet New York’s long-term supply needs to the communities it serves.  National Grid has committed to present the findings of its analysis through a series of public meetings in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties, designed to facilitate a dialogue with customers, residents, advocates, business leaders and local elected officials.  The company will partner with local elected officials to facilitate these forums to ensure maximum transparency so that a strategy can be formulated that reflects the public’s input.

While it is widely understood that there are very real natural gas constraints facing the region, a final, long-term option should be identified and agreed with the State by June 2020 to allow a safe adequate construction and transition period and have the long-term option or options in place and functioning in approximately two years.

“We have worked hard to identify an innovative series of alternatives to meet growing demand.  With this agreement, we will present options for long-term supply solutions that ensure our customers have the service they require and desire,” said John Bruckner, President of National Grid New York.  “With the resumption of service, providing support for those affected by the moratorium and further investments in New York’s long-term clean energy future, we are demonstrating our unwavering commitment to delivering on our top priority of providing safe and reliable service.”

An independent monitor will be appointed by the Department of Public Service to oversee National Grid’s compliance with this agreement.

The agreement resolves the matter opened by the New York State Public Service Commission relating to the moratorium and provides the necessary framework for resolving the longer-term energy supply issues.

About National Grid

About National Grid: National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, and find our photos on Instagram.