August 11,2009

National Grid today applauded New York State Governor David A. Paterson’s State Energy Plan proposal that calls for the efficient production, delivery and use of energy, an improved delivery infrastructure, and support for technologies that will aid in the transition to a clean energy economy.

This plan supports the Governor’s “45 by 15” initiative to both reduce electricity use by 15 percent below 2015 forecasts and increase the proportion of renewable generation to 30 percent of electricity demand by 2015.

As a leader in efficiency programs across the northeast, National Grid has expanded its energy efficiency programs in upstate New York in the past year for both electric and natural gas customers to continue to support the Governor’s efforts, curb consumption and help its customers save money on their monthly energy costs.

“The Governor’s aggressive energy agenda is particularly encouraging as it matches National Grid’s equally robust initiatives, including recently proposed smart grid pilot programs in the Albany and Syracuse areas,” said William E. Flynn, vice president of New York government relations for National Grid.

“Although efficiency is a key part of reaching our goals, it can only be attained by creating an environment that fosters the economic vitality of the energy industry in New York to not only promote energy efficiency, demand response and renewable energy, but to also more effectively finance the infrastructure that will be the foundation for new business and industry,” Flynn said. “This will create jobs and provide citizens with reliable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable energy resources. New York is poised to lead this new economy and we at National Grid look forward to utilizing the power of action by working with Governor Paterson to make it happen.”

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.