UI, SCG and CNG Offer Increased Incentives with December Deadline

To help Connecticut large and small businesses reach their energy efficiency goals for 2020, more resources are being dedicated to support cost-saving upgrades and projects to help streamline operations. United Illuminating (UI), Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG) and Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), subsidiaries of AVANGRID Inc., are helping customers assess opportunities, execute updates and secure incentives that cover up to an unprecedented 75 percent of project costs.

UI, SCG and CNG have developed these enhancements for retrofit projects to support large Commercial and Industrial (C&I) businesses with rebates and incentives, however projects must be submitted by mid-December to qualify. Up to 75 percent of install measure costs for retrofit projects completed in 2020 can be covered under the current program offerings for projects estimated to realize at least 30 percent energy savings upon completion. Business customers are encouraged to begin planning for 2021 projects to take advantage of funding while it lasts.

In one recent project, a retailer serving Trumbull, North Haven, Fairfield and Bridgeport areas upgraded its LED lighting and lighting control system with enhanced incentives that covered 75 percent of the total $553,700 project cost. Without the newly enhanced incentives, roughly $137,7000 would have been provided toward the project; with current incentives, the retailer will receive roughly $415,000 toward project costs.

Commercial property owners, energy modeling firms and architectural firms can also obtain attractive incentives for new construction. Eligible projects are based on whole building outcomes, including those that are using high performance interior and exterior lighting (LED), sustainable office design and system controls to meet or exceed green building certification requirements. In addition, there are now more than 40 available incentive measures for HVAC and food service equipment. For the latest in available incentives, visit

https://www.energizect.com/events-resources/energy-articles/incentive-status.

“By providing these larger incentives, we can help our customers get back on track with their energy efficiency goals in 2020 and financially prepare for 2021,” said Elizabeth Murphy, supervisor at AVANGRID Inc. “These upgrades provide businesses with operating cost-savings during a critical time, supporting long-term sustainability and the viability of their business operations to meet new requirements or modifications.”

A large-scale, New Haven-based bakery recently leveraged an additional $32,000 in incentives, utilizing a total of $155,000 in incentives for their $186,000 project. With these funds, the bakery upgraded and installed LED lighting and a high-efficiency blast freezer, increasing overall production efficiency to support their nationwide distribution of pies and baked goods.

For micro-businesses - like local restaurants, small retail operations, doctors’ or lawyers’ offices and private companies - virtual, no-contact energy pre-assessments are now available through the Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program to support electric and gas cost-saving measures. The assessment allows business owners to address energy-saving improvements remotely with UI, SCG, CNG approved contractors, using mobile devices to share and identify areas where upgrades could improve energy use. In addition to lighting systems or controls upgrades, measures can include sealing and weatherization, refrigeration controls and cooler upgrades, pipe insulation, HVAC system upgrades and controls or custom energy efficiency measures. After the assessment, a self-install kit of energy-saving measures will be mailed to the customer at no charge. At no cost, follow-up site visits following safety protocol might be coordinated to identify any additional skilled or licensed labor needed, such as specialty equipment installation.

“Virtual assessments help micro-businesses, many of whom are feeling the negative impacts of the pandemic and continue to search for ways to save costs in daily operations,” said Elizabeth Murphy. “It’s important that we continue to provide strong support for small businesses to reach and maintain financial and energy efficiency goals and the self-install options can help them realize savings right away.”

For more information about incentives for Large and Small C&I energy efficiency projects, customers are encouraged to reach out to their UI, SCG or CNG program administrator. Sign up today at BusinessEnergyCT.com through our on-line form.

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About UI:

The United Illuminating Company (UI) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. Established in 1899, UI operates approximately 3,500 miles of electric distribution lines and 139 miles of transmission lines. It serves approximately 339,000 customers in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas of Connecticut. UI received the Edison Electric Institute’s Emergency Recovery Award recognizing the company’s response to the May 2018 storms that impacted its service territory. For more information, visit www.uinet.com.

About SCG:

The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. Established in 1847, SCG operates approximately 2,500 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines, serving approximately 203,000 customers in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas of Connecticut. For more information, visit www.soconngas.com.

About CNG:

Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. Established in 1848, CNG operates 2,160 miles of natural gas distribution pipeline, serving approximately 191,000 customers across 26 communities in the greater Hartford-New Britain area, and Greenwich, Connecticut. For more information, visit www.cngcorp.com.

About AVANGRID:

AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $35 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,600 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 and 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.