Upcoming Customer Assistance Events Hosted by National Grid

WALTHAM, Mass. — National Grid’s in-person Customer Assistance events are continuing across Massachusetts throughout August, along with two Summer Bill Assistance Webinars.

In Berkshire County there will be an event on Aug. 14, from 10:00am to 09:00pm, on the Pittsfield Town Common, Main St., Pittsfield.

These offerings provide customers direct access to National Grid Customer Service Specialists, either in person or virtually, to assist with program and payment options to help meet their energy needs.

"This summer, National Grid is expanding opportunities for customers to connect with our team in person and online," said Bill Malee, Chief Customer Officer, National Grid. "These events and webinars are designed to provide personalized support and help customers explore the full range of programs available to manage energy costs, including our new Payment Assistance Bundle."

Through the end of August, in-person events will be held across Massachusetts, including in Brockton, Grafton, Gardner, Saugus, Rockland, Beverly, Winthrop, and Swampscott. A full list of all in-person customer assistance events throughout the Summer is available online and below.

Customers attending in-person events will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from National Grid, who will be on-site to assist with billing issues and provide information on:

• Enrolling in National Grid’s new Payment Assistance Bundle
• Enrolling in Budget Billing
• Enrolling in the Energy Discount Rate (for qualifying customers)
• Scheduling home energy assessments and sharing information on other energy efficiency opportunities for homes or businesses 

National Grid is also hosting two Summer Bill Assistance Webinars this month on August 7th at 12pm (Spanish) and on August 18th at 11am (English). These online options will provide an overview of our bill management solutions and financial assistance opportunities. Customers can register for the webinars online through our Customer Assistance Events page.

Help with Managing Energy Bills:

National Grid is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to the customers and communities we serve. We recognize that affordability is a significant concern, and National Grid offers various programs and services to help customers save energy, manage their bills, and access financial assistance.  

National Grid customers can now sign up for a new Payment Assistance Bundle. The bundle combines three helpful solutions to make it easier for managing energy costs and paying down past due amounts over a 12-month period.

• Deferred Payment Agreement: Spread out past-due balance into future monthly payments.
• Automatic Monthly Payments: Automatically deduct payments from your bank account each month and avoid missing due dates.
• Budget Plan: Break down annual energy costs into balanced monthly payments, making it easier to budget and plan expenses.

Customers interested in enrolling in the Payment Assistance Bundle can do so online by visiting ngrid.com/hereforyou, at an in-person event, or by calling 1-800-233-5325.

Budget Billing: Allows customers to spread their usual payment over twelve balanced monthly payments to help offset the traditionally high winter heating and summer air conditioning peak bills. Doing so makes it easier to anticipate monthly energy costs and plan household budgets. Additional information can be found here.

Discount Rates: Income-eligible customers may qualify for a discounted rate on energy service. To be eligible, applicants must be a National Grid customer and already enrolled in an eligible benefit program or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Visit the Discount Rate application to determine eligibility and apply.

National Grid encourages Massachusetts customers to learn more about all Bill Assistance programs and services by visiting ngrid.com/hereforyou. 

Toys for Tots Bringing Presents to Thousands of Kids This Year

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:21PM / Friday, December 05, 2025

Volunteers organize toys by age and gender in the House of Corrections storage facility. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Plenty of toys are on their way to children this holiday season thanks to Toys for Tots.

Christopher Keegan has coordinated the local toy drive for the Berkshire Chapter of the Marine Corps Reserve since 2015 and said he has seen the need rise every year, last year helping more than 6,000 kids.

"This is 11 years I've been doing it, and the need has gone up every year. It's gone up every year, and I anticipate it going up even more this year," Keegan said.

On Thursday, the Berkshire County House of Corrections storage facility was overflowing with toys making it the county's very own Santa's workshop. 

Keegan said Berkshire County always shows up with toys or donations. 

"This county is outstanding when it comes to charity. They rally around stuff. They're very giving, they're very generous, and they've been tremendous in this effort, the toys for pride effort, since I've been doing it, our goal is to honor every request, and we've always reached that goal," he said.

Keegan's team is about 20 to 25 volunteers who sort out toys based on age and gender. This week, the crew started collecting from the 230 or so boxes set out around the county on Oct. 1.

"The two age groups that are probably more difficult — there's a newborn to 2s, boys and girls, and 11 to 14, boys and girls. Those are the two challenging ages where we need to focus our attention on a little bit more," he said.

Toys For Tots has about 30 participating schools and agencies that sign up families and individuals who need help putting gifts under the tree. Keegan takes requests right up until the last minute on Christmas.

"We can go out shopping for Christmas. I had sent my daughter out Christmas Eve morning. Hey, we need X amount of toys and stuff, but the requests are still rolling in from individuals, and I don't say no, we'll make it work however we can," he said.

Community members help to raise money or bring in unopened and unused toys. Capeless Elementary student Thomas St. John recently raised $1,000 selling hot chocolate and used the money to buy toys for the drive.

"It's amazing how much it's grown and how broad it is, how many people who were involved," Keegan said.

On Saturday, Live 95.9 personalities Bryan Slater and Marjo Catalano of "Slater and Marjo in the Morning" will host a Toys for Tots challenge at The Hot Dog Ranch and Proprietor's Lodge. Keegan said they have been very supportive of the drive and that they were able to collect more than 3,000 toys for the drive last year.

Volunteer Debbie Melle has been volunteering with Toys for Tots in the county for about five years and said people really showed up to give this year.

"I absolutely love it. It's what we always say. It's organized chaos, but it's rewarding. And what I actually this year, I'm so surprised, because the amount that the community has given us, and you can see that when you see these pictures, that you've taken, this is probably the most toys we've ever gotten," she said. "So I don't know if people just feel like this is a time to give and they're just going above and beyond, but I'm blown away. This year we can barely walk down the aisles for how much, how many toys are here. It's wonderful."