National Grid Introduces New Customer Protections During Periods of Extreme Heat

The company will pause service disconnections for nonpayment for residential electric customers on any day when the heat index is forecast to be 90 degrees or higher. Disconnection is the absolute last resort for National Grid and only occurs after company representatives have attempted to assist customers to eliminate any overdue balances. The company has a suite of programs to aid customers that have fallen behind on their bills and communicates frequently with customers who miss a payment deadline or have overdue balances.

Disconnections will be suspended for a geographic region when forecasts predict heat indexes to exceed 90 degrees in the area. Company officials will review forecasts obtained between 8 a.m. the calendar day before and 8 a.m. the day of the expected heat event. We will also pause disconnections in real time if the weather is warmer than previously forecasted. The geographic regions include the cities and surrounding areas of Albany, Buffalo, Glens Falls, Gloversville, Fredonia, Niagara Falls, Olean, Oswego/Fulton/Pulaski, Potsdam, Syracuse, Watertown, Utica/Rome, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, and Troy.

Additionally, the suspension will continue for two days following the end of the heat event for regions designated as heat islands. A heat island is a developed area with limited natural landscape that experiences higher temperatures due to concentrated buildings, roads, and other infrastructure that absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat. Heat islands served by National Grid include:

• In Central New York: city of Syracuse, villages of East Syracuse, Liverpool, Minoa, North Syracuse, Solvay; and areas of De Witt, Fairmount, Galeville, Lyncourt, Mattydale, Nedrow, and Westvale.
• In Eastern New York: cities of Albany, Cohoes, Glens Falls, Gloversville, Hudson, Rensselaer, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Troy, and Watervliet; villages of Colonie, Ft. Edward, Green Island, Hudson Falls, Scotia, and S. Glens Falls; and areas of Clifton Gardens, E. Glenville, Hampton Manor, Latham, Loudonville, Niskayuna, Roessleville, Rotterdam, W. Glens Falls, Westmere, and Wynantskill.
• In Northern New York: city of Ogdensburg; and villages of Clayton, Malone, Massena, and Potsdam.
• In Western New York: cities of Buffalo, Lackawanna, N. Tonawanda, and Tonawanda; villages of Blasdell, Kenmore, and Sloan; and areas of Cheektowaga, Eggertsville, (town of) Tonawanda, and West Seneca.

Staying Safe When Temperatures Rise

Every person responds to heat differently. Age, health, diet, and other factors contribute to how you experience hot weather. National Grid urges you to take heat illnesses seriously and know the signs.

Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt to sweating. Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, thirst, and elevated body temperature. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anyone experiencing heat exhaustion should be moved to a cooler environment, given cold liquids to sip, and cold compresses to apply to their head and neck, and seek medical care.

Heat stroke occurs when the body is no longer able to regulate its own temperature and unable to cool itself down. Symptoms include confusion, altered mental status and slurred speech, loss of consciousness, seizures, and very high body temperature. The CDC advises calling 911 for emergency assistance and moving the individual to a shaded area, if possible.

You can protect yourself by staying out of the sunlight as much as possible and avoiding strenuous activities. If you must be outside, drink plenty of water and limit beverages high in sugar, sodium, caffeine, and alcohol.

Additionally, the New York State Department of Health maintains an interactive map of cooling centers across the state. Find one near you by visiting their website and clicking the Cooling Center Finder link.

National Grid is Here for You

National Grid reaches out to customers all year long to provide assistance and information that can help you afford your energy usage. Our Here For You website outlines ways to save money on your bill, and programs to manage and afford your energy use.

Customers who meet HEAP income requirements or receive benefits from a qualifying government assistance program also qualify for our Energy Affordability Program, which provides a monthly bill credit. Learn more about EAP by visiting our website, emailing [email protected] or calling 866-305-1915.