UI, SCG, CNG Award Local Organizations with Community Partnership Initiative Funds
Third round of funding empowers local organizations to expand energy efficiency efforts in underserved communities
ORANGE, Conn. — October 22, 2025 — Today, United Illuminating (UI), Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), subsidiaries of Avangrid, Inc., announced that 12 entities, including nonprofits, municipalities and chambers of commerce, have been selected to participate in the third round of funding available through the Community Partnership Initiative (Partnership). Through the Partnership, local nonprofits, community groups, and environmental justice municipalities collaborate to increase awareness and participation in key energy programs, including Home Energy Solutions-Income Eligible, heat pump adoption for income eligible customers, Small Business Energy Advantage, and the Multifamily Initiative. The Partnership is administered by Energize Connecticut™ sponsors Eversource and Avangrid subsidiaries. The 12 entities that have been awarded include six from UI and SCG, five from CNG, and one from SCG territories in collaboration with Eversource.
“The Energize CT Community Partnership Initiative allows us to connect with customers across the state, especially in communities that have historically been underserved,” said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of UI, CNG, and SCG. “We’ve seen firsthand how local outreach results in greater awareness and participation in energy efficiency programs, helping families and businesses lower their energy use and save money throughout the year.”
The awarded participants will receive funding, ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, to implement community outreach plans that promote energy assessments, weatherization and other energy-saving upgrades benefiting small businesses and residential homeowners and renters in cities and towns across the state, including over 14 environmental justice communities.
“We are eager to work with the selected participants to increase access to energy efficiency in our communities, and the participants of this year’s Community Partnership Initiative represent a range of organizations who can help make that happen,” said Senior Manager of Conservation and Load Management at UI, CNG, and SCG, Marissa Westbrook. “We have no doubt that each participant will go above and beyond with their energy efficiency program outreach and experience the many benefits of these important upgrades within their communities.”
Established in 2021, the Partnership provides funding to environmental justice communities and their community outreach groups, such as Energy Task Forces, non-profit organizations, and other community-based groups to raise awareness and better familiarize residents and businesses with energy efficiency solutions offered by EnergizeCT. To date, 19 funding awards have been made to organizations to promote energy efficiency program participation across UI, CNG, and SCG territories.
The first round launched in 2022, offering funding between $10,000 and $30,000 for short or long-term energy efficiency initiatives. Hamden, for example, received $27,500 and doubled its goal for participation in the Home Energy Solutions – Income Eligible program. In 2023, the second round began with organizations like Operation Fuel and Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises using funds to educate Bridgeport residents on heat pumps and promote energy-saving programs. In 2024, funded communities continued outreach through events, partnerships, and mailings to boost awareness and engagement.
Round 3 selection was based on the participants’ proposals to connect with their local communities to gain interest and increase participation in energy efficiency programs available in Connecticut.
Below are the Community Partnership Initiative Round 3 awardees and the communities that their efforts and campaigns will primarily impact:
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CT Community Nonprofit Alliance
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Primary communities served: Statewide
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Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association
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Primary communities served: Hartford
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City of New Haven
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Primary community served: New Haven
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CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce
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Primary community served: East Hartford
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Generation Power CT (formerly Operation Fuel)
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Primary community served: East Hartford
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Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises, Inc. & CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs
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Primary community served: Bridgeport
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Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce
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Primary communities served: East Haven, New Haven, West Haven
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Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce
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Primary community served: Hamden
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Live Green Connecticut
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Primary communities served: Bridgeport, Stratford
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Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG)
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Primary communities served: Clinton, Deep River, East Hampton, Essex, Portland
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Town of Manchester and Town of Manchester Sustainability Commission
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Primary community served: Manchester
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Town of Windsor
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Primary community served: Windsor
For more information on the Community Partnership Initiative, please visit EnergizeCT.com/your-town/community-partnership.
About Energize Connecticut
Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Connecticut Green Bank, the State, Eversource, UI, SCG and CNG with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE.
Media Contact:
Angela Baccaro