UI, SCG Kicks Off Small Business Energy Efficiency Campaign with City of New Haven

New Haven Mayor Elicker and UI/SCG team visit two Dixwell businesses to highlight free efficiency assessments
 

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — September 25, 2023 — United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Gas, subsidiaries of Avangrid (NYSE: AGR), today kicked off their Small Business Energy Efficiency Campaign (September 25-29) in partnership with the City of New Haven. As part of the launch of the campaign, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and members of the UI/SCG team visited two local businesses in the Dixwell neighborhood, Dope N Delicious and Mae Flower and Gift Shop. These businesses were the first to receive no-cost, no-obligation energy efficiency assessments this week, which UI/SCG and the City of New Haven are offering to all small businesses across the city.

“I was pleased our team joined with Mayor Elicker and members of his administration this morning in visiting two businesses in the historic Dixwell neighborhood as they received the first two energy efficiency assessments during New Haven’s Small Business Energy Efficiency Campaign,” said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Gas.  “Improving the energy efficiency of homes and businesses is one of the simplest, most effective ways customers can save money on their utility bills while reducing their carbon footprint. To see the City of New Haven fully embrace this important work reflects their commitment to sustainability, and I am grateful for their partnership on these efforts.”

The New Haven Small Business Energy Efficiency Campaign is a joint collaborative effort of UI/SCG’s Conservation & Load Management team as well as the City of New Haven Small Business Resource Center and the Office of Climate and Sustainability. From September 25 through September 29, vendors with the EnergizeCT Small Business Energy Advantage program will visit small businesses across New Haven and perform no-cost, no-obligation energy efficiency assessments. These assessments will provide business-owners with practical solutions to help them save money and energy while promoting the building’s comfort levels for customers and employees, such as window sealing, insulation upgrades, or switching to LED lightbulbs. As part of the weeklong Campaign, many of these upgrades qualify for up to an 80 percent incentive up-front through the EnergizeCT’s Small Business Energy Advantage program.

“A free energy efficiency audit and discounted energy-saving upgrades that help a small business lower their energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint is a win-win,” said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. “Meeting our climate goals as a city is going to require everyone doing their part. The SBEA program makes it easy for small business owners and others – who have to manage a lot on a day-to-day basis – to get the expertise they need to make their business facilities more energy efficient and improve their bottom line. We appreciate UI’s partnership in working with the City of New Haven to help our local small businesses, nonprofits and houses of worship access this important program.”  

The Small Business Energy Adantage program is a commercial energy efficiency program through EnergizeCT, an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, Connecticut Green Bank, the State, and local electric and gas utilities dedicated to empowering Connecticut communities to make smarter energy choices, now and in the future. The Small Business Energy Advantage program offers small businesses with an average 12-month peak demand between 10 and 200 kilowatts a no-cost energy assessment, a comprehensive proposal of all eligible energy efficiency measures, incentives to cover a portion of the installed cost, and zero-interest and low-cost financing available for qualifying businesses.

“I’m truly excited to be a part of a program that not only promises to help transform Mae Flower, but also extends a hand to our fellow small businesses,” said Nethia Joyner, owner of the Mae Flower and Gift Shop. “As we all know, having any type of help for small businesses is not just a luxury – it’s a necessity. That’s where our partnership with UI comes into play. We’re thrilled that UI has announced a program that’s designed to empower us, uplift our business, and foster growth in the small business community. We believe that this a game-changer for our business, and it can be for other small businesses as well.”
 

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