Upcoming Customer Assistance Events Hosted by National Grid

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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. 

 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Companion Corner: Fox at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a sweet and energetic dog at the Berkshire Humane Society waiting for his new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Fox is a 3-year-old Pomeranian who has been at the shelter for about a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Fox. 

"He's a bundle of joy. He would love a family who's home with him a lot, because he's just, he's very social and wants to be with his people a lot. And he would be fun to bring out and about, bring a lot of places, because he's very happy to go anywhere," she said.

When Fox enters the room he is immediately a puffball of energy that goes around and around the room.

He came to the shelter after his former owner could not take care of him anymore. 

"The owner was just not able to care for him anymore. Had he came in with another dog, Wolf, and she already did find her forever home just last week," said Olivieri. "The two of them were left with a friend of the original owner, and the owner did not come back to pick them up, and the friend had too many animals in the house, and too much going on, and she just couldn't continue to look after them, so they did end up coming to us."

Fox can go home with cats and children but is not recommended to go home with other dogs as he gets too excited.

"He would love a home where people are home quite a bit to give him all the attention that he so desires. He loves kids. He absolutely adores children. So he would like a home with kids to play with. He could live with cats. We are saying that he should not live with other dogs. The only reason is that he gets very humpy, and he does not leave the other dogs alone," she said.

With his energy it is recommended he goes to a home that can keep him active whether walks or hikes and even fetch in the yard.

Fox does need to learn more about walking on a leash and has a tendency to mark in the house but he was recently neutered. Olivieri said belly bands will be sent home with whoever adopts him to help prevent marking and managing it.

"He would like an active home. He really does like to go for walks daily. He likes to run around in the yard. He does need a little work on leash walking. He sometimes gets a little tangled still under your feet, and he's learning how to walk on a leash," she said. "So, someone who's got some patience and some time to work on some training with him."

"He also is not fully potty trained, so he does know to go potty outside. However, he will still mark, urinate in the house sometimes, and he might poop here and there in the house."

Once you catch Fox he will go calm in your arms as he loves to be held especially like a baby. He loves attention and meeting new people.

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