National Grid donates $200,000 for heating assistance
4:43 PM Fri, Oct 31, 2008 | Permalink
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National Grid said that it will donate $200,000 to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, which provides heating assistance to Rhode Islanders who can't pay their energy bills because of temporary financial difficulty. The company said its donation is part of a $1 million it will give for fuel assistance in New England and New York. The money will come from the company's shareholders, not from ratepayers, according to David Graves, a spokesman for National Grid. "Given the economy and still-high natural gas supply costs, many people may struggle to heat their homes this winter," said Nick Stravropoulos, National Grid executive vice president of gas distribution operations. "We invite others in the state to contribute to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund. Imagine what can be achieved through the power of action when we all pull together to help those in need." The Good Neighbor Energy Fund provides grants to help pay the heating bills of families who don't otherwise qualify for state or federal energy-assistance programs. The fund has been operating for 23 years, and is administered by the Salvation Army. In past years, donations by utility companies typically come from the customers of those companies. But Graves said this donation is not coming from ratepayers. Other sponsors include Dominion Resources, FPL Energy's Rhode Island State Energy Center, TransCanada's Ocean State Power and the Pascoag Utility District. Last year, the fund helped 2,284 families pay an electric, gas or oil bill. The Salvation Army has set a fund-raising goal of $600,000 this year. The maximum grant is $500 per family, per heating season. The grant can be divided to pay more than one utility or heating oil company. A recipient cannot receive assistance from both the fund and the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. To make a donation, or to apply for assistance, contact the Salvation Army headquarters at 401-831-1119, or go to a local Salvation Army Office. 
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national grid got a 21% increase due to gas price increases.
gas prices have fallen - they should give back 15%.
$200,000.00 is what? a few days profit from the increase?
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Projo reports that - National Grid donates $200,000 for heating assistance. Today our electrical generation and distribution facilities are separated into several different operational companies. Both National Grid and the companion now Dominion Clean Coal Generating facility, in near by Summerset, MA, clearly are among these companies trying to be good regional citizens. The companies and their employees are assets to our RI / SE MA area.
However in spite of their efforts the fundamental cost of energy / electric power remains the second highest contributing factor to the negative business climate in the region. We must ask why is this the case. Then what is the first highest contributing factor or genesis of the problem?
May I share my visit to one of our local electrical generation facilities last Saturday and a much different takeaway than I had anticipated?
I toured the Summerset, MA clean coal generation facility last Saturday with the local Providence Section IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers). I was very impressed at the improvements / efficiencies implemented at that facility since the mid to late 70's when I had previously visited the operation as part of an environmental Engineering class and subsequently a power engineering class. Yes at that facility a blend of alternate fuel sources e.g. co fired clean coal and natural gas for electricity generation to achieve better efficiencies & much reduced pollution answer going forward. Today high cost oil is only a back up! Further this facility fits with in a regional portfolio of the alternative energy solutions such as US produced clean coal, natural gas wind, solar, tidal, nuclear, and someday perhaps even polywell fusion.
Now back to the local cost of electrical power. The first and highest contributing factor and its impact on the local economy. Most important I realize that the same unfriendly and regressive taxation practices by our local and state governments impact the now several major distributed companies supplying our power in the region.
Yes, MA and RI top the list of overall electric power cost. This high cost has much more to do with a local Pseudo Socialist Liberal Largeness mindset requiring the seizure of increased amounts of wealth in the form of ever increasing taxation. This is a distorted political attitude fostered (even being permeated into and distorting school children civic values). Again, regional government tax policy with companion multiplicity of overlapping regulations. Yes, hidden taxes become a significant cost factor for electricity cost. Yes, even considering the cost of or distance from clean coal , natural gas, oil energy supply.
Today the now dispersed electric companies model is being utilized as an extension of the state and local tax collection process!? Yes, Taxes to feed an out of control need for an ever increased revenue stream that supports a costly entitlement system mind set.
Accordingly as a key part of State and local government reforms must be the reformed taxation and regulation of this key regional local business enabler e.g. reduced local electricity cost by reform and elimination of these regressive tax policies. Such towards realizing in an improved business growth climate.
Today State and local government collecting additional hidden taxes via the local generation and distribution of electricity is very regressive and just another hidden tax on the citizen at large and small business. Most big business and skilled employees already voted with their feet (departing the region). Again high electric rates historically, proven a significant detractor to operation a business in these two states.
This realization and confirmation takes us all back to the beginning of the problem facing us today in RI. We must reorganize local and state government to reduce size, cost, overlaps and inefficiencies in delivering only the basic fundamental services to citizens. Such will lower the overall cost of local government and eliminate the need for such a regressive anti business tax policy assigned to & infused into our electric rates.
Yes, my takeaway from the Saturday trip was much different than I had expected. That is we have much more of a problem associated with the local cost of electricity created back in our state houses and the General Assembly than at the local generation and distribution facilities! Apparently our continued lack of government reform is the real regional detractor after all and not base electricity rates less taxation per say!
November 04, 2008 is Election Day.
wfh Middletown, RI
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