August 17,2009
As an added convenience to its Massachusetts electric customers, National Grid is now accepting credit and debit card payment via the phone and internet. The new credit and debit card payment offerings expand the array of National Grid payment options in Massachusetts, which include online payment, automatic account debit, mail-in and pay-in-person at authorized payment agent outlets. Electric customers in New Hampshire and Rhode Island, who already have the credit and debit card payment options, will experience reduced fees to use the service.
“Our customers have been asking for credit and debit card payment options for quite sometime and we are pleased to be able to fulfill their requests,” said Tracey McCarthy, vice president for customer financial services.
Customers who choose to pay via credit and debit card can do so instantly by calling 1-888-849-4310 or by visiting the National Grid web site at www.nationalgridus.com. No pre-registration or setup is necessary. The convenience fee to use this service is $2.25 for residential customers paying bills up to $600, and $7.95 for non-residential customers paying bills up to $1000. Additional charges will apply to bills greater than these amounts. The convenience fee is charged by the service provider – Western Union – and is not retained by National Grid.
All National Grid electric customers in New England will pay the same convenience fee rate to use the service. Formerly, residential electric customers in New Hampshire and Rhode Island paid $3.95 for bills up to $400 to use a similar service. All National Grid customers in New England – gas and electric - will have the credit or debit card payment option by the end of the year.
National Grid offers its customers a variety of payment options to provide easy ways to pay and manage energy bills. For more information on all of National Grid’s bill payment options, visit www.nationalgridus.com.
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.