National Grid to Host Customer Assistance Event in North Adams

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WALTHAM, Mass — National Grid will host a series of statewide Customer Assistance events during April 2026, with advocates visiting every region within the utility's Massachusetts footprint. 
 
The North Adams event will be held on April 14, from 11 am to 3 pm at the Berkshire Community Action Council at 85 Main Street.
 
As the weather warms up, customers can still get help managing their energy bills, including support with costs from the winter months and planning ahead for future usage.
 
"As spring arrives, National Grid's customer advocates continue to engage with customers across Massachusetts, helping them take advantage of available resources," said Bill Malee, Chief Customer Officer, National Grid. "We also appreciate the community organizations that work with us to reach customers and share information about available assistance."
 
In addition, National Grid reminds customers that applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), commonly referred to as Fuel Assistance, will close on April 30, 2026. Customers can find eligibility criteria and the program application on the Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program website or they can connect with a local Fuel Assistance Agency for help with the process.
 
The statewide events are part of the utility's commitment to helping customers manage bill impacts. National Grid's Customer Service Specialists experts will be on hand to manage seasonal energy bills and explore cost-saving programs to meet each customer's needs, highlighting programs such as:
  • National Grid's Payment Assistance Bundle;
  • Budget Billing;
  • The Energy Discount Rate (for qualifying customers);
  • Home energy assessments; and
  • Information on other energy efficiency opportunities for homes or businesses.

Customers can also sign up to watch one of the Bill Assistance Webinars, which are available online:

  • Bill Assistance Webinar - in English (recorded Feb. 9, 2026);
  • Bill Assistance Webinar - in Spanish (recorded Feb. 6, 2026). 

These events are free and are a core part of National Grid's broader commitment to affordability and reliability. Customers can find information about upcoming sessions on our Customer Assistance webpage or learn more about managing winter energy bills at ngrid.com/hereforyou. They can also request assistance by calling 1-800-233-5325.

 

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Clarksburg School Pressed to Find More Savings for Fiscal 2027

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Clarksburg Town Administrator Ronald Boucher says the town's ability to levy more taxes is severely limited and he doesn't want to go to an override vote. 
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — School officials are looking at the elimination of three teaching assistants, prekindergarten for 3-year-olds and a two part-time positions to reduce the fiscal 2027 budget. 
 
Business Manager Jordan Rennell on Thursday went through the latest draft of the budget during a joint meeting of the School Committee, Select Board and Finance Committee, explaining the figures behind a projected spending plan of $3,299,206, up $213,563 or 6.92 percent over this year. 
 
"This budget reflects what has changed since March, when I showed you a 6.8 [percent]," said Rennell to a packed classroom of residents and teachers. "Unfortunately, it went to 6.9 [percent]."
 
Rennell, who's new in the position, explained before she could even begin comparing this year's and next year's budget, there was a $151,000 difference "between what we voted on and what we needed to survive."
 
The bulk of that was employee health insurance, which has become a major factor in school and municipal budgets across the state. 
 
"I took those true numbers from FY26 and I dumped them into FY27 and if we kept everything the same, every program, every teacher, every TA, the same our bottom line budget would increase 11.2 percent," she said. "Between the collaborative work between the town and the principal and Superintendent [John] Franzoni and all of the pieces of the puzzle, we were able to make some hard, gut-wrenching cuts that got us to that 6.9 percent."
 
That includes Rennell's former position as the preK 3 teacher, the three assistants, a 0.2 speech position and a 0.2 occupational therapy assistant. 
 
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