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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North Adams Airport Commissioners Review Badge Policy

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Airport Commission will rethink its badge policy after a discussion with airport users who shared their grievances regarding the current system.
 
The commissioners voted last week to approve a new fee structure for the airport — minus badge fees — as they hope to continue their discussion and craft a policy that creates fewer barriers for airport users.
 
Three years ago, former manager Bruce Goff was charged with cleaning up the badge system. At the time, it was unknown how many badges were in circulation; some airport users had multiple badges, while others had moved away or passed away.
 
Badges are required to access the airside of the airport. Under the current rules, all new badges were set to expire in three years, leaving airport users currently scrambling to obtain new ones. This process comes with a $50 fee.
 
Airport user and former commissioner Trevor Gilman said the sticking point for him was not the price, but the automatic shutdown of the badges upon expiration, as well as the process by which users must obtain brand-new physical cards.
 
"Why change out a badge for the same person? They are perfectly good badges. It is not the cost, it is the process. All of a sudden my badge expired and I can't get in. It takes forever to get one from the state," Gilman said. "If you lose a badge, certainly you should have to buy a new one because there is a cost. That is not the problem; it is the process."
 
He said other airports do not have expiration dates on their badges, adding that he has held one from another airport for 10 years. Gilman argued there should be no barriers to users obtaining a badge, suggesting that higher badge adoption allows the city to better track airport activity.
 
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