UI, CNG, and SCG Help Customers Stay Warm and Save Money During Cold Snap
In addition to tools available to all customers, customers who are struggling to manage their energy bills are encouraged to call Customer Service to enroll in billing assistance programs
ORANGE, Conn.—December 8, 2025 With Governor Lamont’s activation of Connecticut’s severe weather protocol through Tuesday, December 9 at noon, United Illuminating (UI), Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), subsidiaries of Avangrid, Inc., are encouraging customers to take advantage of energy-saving tips and resources to bring down usage and mitigate cost impacts throughout the cold weather season. These resources, which are available on the companies’ websites and on EnergizeCT.com, include a host of energy efficiency programs and tips, plus opportunities to analyze and manage energy usage and stabilize energy bills across the year. Customers who think they may qualify for billing assistance programs are also encouraged to contact the companies’ Customer Service departments for more information on enrolling in these programs, and CNG customers can also plan to speak with representatives in person on January 22, 2026 at the New Britain Community Action Agency, Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc., at 180 Clinton Street from 4 PM to 7 PM.
“During cold snaps, it’s even more important for energy companies to offer tools and resources to our customers to help them manage their usage,” said Frank Reynolds, President and CEO of UI, CNG, and SCG. “That’s why we are proud to offer a wide variety of programs, resources, and tips to promote energy efficiency, consumption analysis and management, and assistance programs for customers who are struggling to make ends meet. No matter what this season continues to throw at us, our top-notch Customer Service teams are here to help customers navigate their energy usage and ensure all of us stay warm and comfortable this season.”
Simple tips and resources can be highly effective tools in managing energy usage, which can be especially helpful to promote savings during cold snaps. These include:
- Adjust the thermostat and water heater. Lowering the thermostat when the residence or business is empty, and lowering the water heater setting, can both create long-term savings. For instance, setting the temperature to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 hours per day can reduce heating use by up to 15 percent, and while 140 degrees Fahrenheit for a water heater is the usual preset temperature, setting to 120 degrees can ensure comfortability while saving energy.
- Consider a programmable or “smart” thermostat. UI offers rebates for customers who purchase a programmable thermostat, which can be set from a smart phone device while away from home. These are available through UI Smart Solutions.
- Get a Home Energy Solutions assessment. Through the EnergizeCT Home Energy Solutions program, customers can receive an in-depth evaluation of their home or facility’s energy efficiency and improvements they can make to it. Potential improvements include duct sealing, insulation checks, changing furnace filters, and more. NEW: Visits scheduled now through March 31, 2026 and completed by April 30, 2026 will receive the service at no cost, with the $75 co-pay waived. Customers can sign up by calling 1-877-WISE USE (877-947-3873) or completing the online application linked here.
- Consider upgrading heating systems. For customers using electric heat, upgrading to a high-efficiency ductless mini-split heat pump can reduce electricity use by up to 40 percent. Rebates are available for customers who purchase a new one: learn more on UI’s Cost-Efficient Heat Pump Incentives webpage
UI, CNG, and SCG all offer a tool known as Energy Analyzer, which offers both residential and commercial/industrial customers an opportunity to gather personalized insights about their energy usage and receive tips on reducing consumption. Consumption data, which is available even on a day-to-day comparison basis, can also be downloaded in a PDF, CSV, and XML format. For business customers with multiple facilities, the Energy Analyzer allows for a comparison across the facilities to help implement best practices. This free tool is available to any customers who have an online account with UI, CNG, or SCG.
Budget Billing is a free tool that allows customers to stabilize their energy bills every month throughout the year. Based on past consumption, the Customer Service team at UI, CNG, and SCG will calculate a customer’s usage and divide it by the 12 months of the year so that the amount paid each month is the same, allowing customers to develop an expected budget each month. Because the last month in the period is a “true-up month,” in which any above- or below-average usage is accounted for through a credit or debit, Customer Service will also periodically review and adjust the billed amount throughout the year to account for and correct any significant changes at the end of the Budget Billing period. This program is available to any customers without a past-due balance on their account.
Customers who are experiencing financial difficulties and looking for resources to help them manage their energy bills may qualify for assistance programs available to individuals experiencing financial hardship. To learn more, customers should visit their utility company’s respective “Help With Bill” page (www.uinet.com/HelpWithBill, www.soconngas.com/HelpWithBill, www.cngcorp.com/HelpWithBill), or call their Customer Service departments directly (UI: 800-722-5584; CNG Hartford: 860-524-8361; CNG Greenwich: 203-869-6900; SCG: 800-659-8299). CNG customers can visit us in-person on January 22, with additional customer outreach events to be announced in the UI and SCG service area. Through any of these outreach methods, customers can find more information on financial hardship programs and bill assistance, which include:
- Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) (UI only) – Income-eligible residential customers can lower the amount they owe on energy bills. For every dollar they pay and every dollar they receive from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program or other energy assistance programs, a dollar will be subtracted from the amount they owe.
- Flexible Payment Arrangements – Available to any UI, CNG, or SCG customer, regardless of their income level. These arrangements can be spread out up to 18 months for residential customers and 6 months for non-residential customers. Current payment arrangements may be renegotiated due to a change in financial circumstances per Conn. Agencies Regs. § 16-3-100(b)(3)(A). These arrangements may be discussed confidentially by calling the CNG Customer Care Center at 860-524-8361 (Greater Hartford) or 203-869-6900 (Greenwich), the SCG Customer Care at 800-659-829, or the UI Customer Care Center at 800-722-5584.
- Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) (UI only) – Available to UI customers with a financial hardship status on their account. Based on their household income or receipt of a public assistance benefit, customers may be eligible for a 10 percent or 50 percent discount off their electric bill per month. Customers should visit www.uinet.com/LIDR to see if they qualify.
About CNG: Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG) is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. Established in 1848, CNG operates 2,200 miles of natural gas distribution pipeline, serving approximately 183,000 customers across 26 communities in the greater Hartford-New Britain area, and Greenwich, Connecticut. For more information, visit www.cngcorp.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 206,000 customers in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas of Connecticut. For more information, visit www.soconngas.com.
About UI: The United Illuminating Company (UI) is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. Established in 1899, UI operates approximately 3,600 miles of electric distribution lines and 138 miles of transmission lines. It serves approximately 341,000 customers in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas of Connecticut. UI received the Edison Electric Institute’s Emergency Recovery Award in 2019 and 2021. For more information, visit www.uinet.com.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation, and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Oregon, including operations in 23 states with approximately $48 billion in assets, and has two primary lines of business: networks and power. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.4 million customers in New York and New England. Through its power generation business, Avangrid owns and operates 80 energy generation facilities across the United States producing 10.5 GW of power for over 3.1 million customers. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens in 2025 for the fifth consecutive year. The company was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2025 for the seventh consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit http://www.avangrid.com.
Media Contact:
Sarah Wall Fliotsos
swall@uinet.com
(757) 407-4255