The one-year proposal would result in a total monthly bill increase of about $19, or 15 percent for a residential electricity customer using 625 kilowatt-hours. Total gas bill increase for residential gas customers would be about $18, or 20 percent a month, based on 78 therms used.

Today’s filing includes a one-year proposal along with cost data for three additional years to enable discussions on a multi-year settlement. Reaching a settlement that spreads cost increases over four years, for example, could reduce the first-year delivery price impacts by more than half. “While we have made every effort to moderate the proposals and resulting bill impacts in our filings, we are interested in exploring a multi-year rate plan that would allow National Grid to take full advantage of efficiencies and manage bills over multiple years,” DeCicco added. “We’re committed to doing all that we can to minimize any impact on our customers while delivering on the critical safety, reliability and clean energy priorities our customers expect and deserve. Recognizing the imperative to manage customers’ bills, these filings balance the need for continued investment with the need to maintain affordability and protect our most vulnerable customers.”

Additional customer benefits in the proposal include: 

• Investment of approximately $1.7 billion in the electricity grid and $338 million in gas networks across upstate New York. This includes investments that will increase the company’s ability to seamlessly connect renewable, distributed generation.
• Investments in the natural gas system that will mitigate regional capacity constraints, make needed infrastructure replacements, and improve the safety and reliability of the distribution network. This includes the retirement of 128 miles of leak-prone pipe over four years.
• Increased customer assistance and energy affordability programs for those having difficulty managing their energy costs.
• Continued deployment of economic development and energy efficiency programs that help grow the upstate economy.
• Adding more than 800 jobs over the next four years to support electric and gas operations, grid modernization and customer programs. These will include local employees who live and work in the communities we serve and support the regional economy.

The plan also will prepare the electric system for the company’s Upstate Upgrade initiative that is essential to the continued reliable operation and resiliency of the energy infrastructure and further enables the connection of locally generated clean energy across Upstate New York.

To ensure the company invests, operates and maintains its energy delivery system in a prudent manner, the proposal will undergo a thorough review process by the New York Department of Public Service.

"National Grid is determined to build a better energy future while keeping energy as affordable as possible,” DeCicco said. “We look forward to an open and transparent public review process and encourage customers to become involved in how we can build a better energy future for all the communities we serve.”

National Grid’s upstate New York electricity business serves 1.7 million customers in more than 680 cities, villages and towns across 25,000 square miles, while its gas distribution business serves more than 640,000 customers across portions of central, northern and eastern New York.

National Grid’s full rate case filing can be found on the Public Service Commission’s website as ngrid.com/uny-ratefiling.