Power Companies Give Customers A Break On Their Bills

ORANGE, CT — Power utilities in Greenwich, and the greater New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford-New Britain areas are offering their customers some financial relief as households struggle to get back on their feet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas announced this week they are now offering 24-month, interest-free payment plans to help customers pay down balances accumulated since the outbreak of the virus. All three companies are subsidiaries of Avangrid Networks.

The companies are also offering to connect customers with assistance that may be available for some families and businesses affected by the crisis.

"We recognize the economic impact this pandemic is having on many Connecticut families and businesses, and we have been working with our regulator to find ways to help them," said Tony Marone, president and CEO of Avangrid.

"Although we currently are not shutting off or penalizing customers for nonpayment, we want to help them manage any balances they may have accumulated over the last few months. These new payment programs allow customers to pay down those balances over 24 months, without interest or penalty, protecting them from loss of service when the shut-off moratorium ends," Marone said.

UI, SCG and CNG implemented the plans at the direction of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, which has been working with the state’s electric and natural gas companies to find ways to mitigate the impact of the crisis.

Customers who enroll in the plans pay no down payment, interest or late payment fees. Customers who are already enrolled in a payment arrangement have the opportunity to extend it to 24 months. Residential customers can enroll in the COVID-19 payment plans through Nov. 1, while other customers can enroll through Aug. 1.

More information is available on the utilities' websites uinet.com, soconngas.com and cngcorp.com.