Discount program open to area farmers

SYRACUSE >> National Grid and Iberdrola USA subsidiaries New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) have expanded their Residential Agricultural Discount programs, which will allow more agricultural customers to lower their monthly electricity delivery charges.

The New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) ReCharge NY program is providing funding for the programs, which began in September 2014.

“At National Grid, we are committed to helping our customers manage their energy bills, so they can save money and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Ken Daly, president, National Grid New York. “The expansion of the discount program increases the number of eligible customers, while those agricultural customers already enrolled in the program will continue to benefit from these cost saving measures.”

“Eligible NYSEG and RG&E customers across our service areas will find the Residential Agricultural Discount program to be a valuable tool in helping them manage their energy bills,” said Mark S. Lynch, president and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E. “We are pleased to have expanded eligibility for the discount and we encourage all residential agricultural customers to consider taking advantage of the program.”

Prior to the recent program expansion, only customers who submitted an IRS Schedule F (Form1040), Profit or Loss fromFarming, were eligible to receive the discount. The expansion now allows additional customers who filed Forms 1120, 1120S, or 1065 with their most recent federal tax return and indicated an eligible Business Activity code to apply for the discount.

Eligible customers must also have an active residential electricity service account with National Grid, NYSEG or RG&E and be billed under one of the following rate classes:

National Grid: Rates beginning with Electric SC1 or Electric SC1C (refer to page two of your bill for details).

NYSEG: 12001, 12008 or 12012 (noted after Electricity Rate on page three of your bill).

RG&E: PSC 19 SC1 or SC 4 (noted after Electricity Ser- vice on page three of your bill).

Customers accepted into the program will find their monthly discount displayed on their bill as a credit in a separate line item, “Res agricultural discount.” The credit is calculated each month and multiplied by the kilowatt-hours used. Monthly discounts will vary based on the number of participants enrolled in the program, the amount of electricity used by participants and available funds from NYPA. The Residential Agricultural Discount credit cannot exceed the customer’s total monthly electric delivery charges.

For the first three months of the program (September through November 2014), typical National Grid, NYSEG and RG&E customers who used 600 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month received a Residential Agricultural Discount of approximately $38 to $44 per month. The program is administered on an annual basis from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31with the monthly discount provided until funding is no longer available through NYPA. Customers will be required to reapply each year to determine continued eligibility.

The utilities continue to accept applications for enrollment in the Sept. 1, 2014 through Aug. 31, 2015 program year. For more information about the Residential Agricultural Discount program, including eligible Business Activity codes, an application form and how to apply, contact your utility company:

National Grid customers are encouraged to visit www.ngrid.com/resgariculturaldiscount for more information. National Grid customers may also contact the company’s customer service center at 1-800-642- 4272, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

NYSEG customers are encouraged to visit www.nyseg.com (click on “Your Business”, then on “Residential Agricultural Discount”). NYSEG customers may also call 1.800.572.1111, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

RG&E customers are encouraged to visit to www.rge.com (click on “Your Business”, then on “Residential Agricultural Discount”). RG&E customers may also call 1.800.743.2110,