Page 10 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 5, 2026 National Grid brings summer cooling tips to customers across Massachusetts N ational Grid is kicking off the summer season with proactive campaigns to help customers stay cool and manage costs. These efforts include bundled solutions that combine energy savings with bill management programs, as well as opportunities to connect one-on-one with customer advocates at assistance events statewide. Following a cold winter, these outreach efforts will help customers during the high-heat months, when increased usage can drive higher electricity costs, and provide tools to track and better understand their energy use. National Grid’s program experts can also offer solutions to help with high bills, helping alleviate financial burdens for eligible customers. “From cooling tips to billing help, our teams are taking a proactive approach to ensure that our customers have the support they need to stay cool and to keep costs down throughout the summer season,” said National Grid Chief Customer Officer Bill Malee. Throughout the summer season, National Grid will provide customers with text alerts that will provide timely energy-saving tips during heat waves. Below is a checklist with a few tips that can help Massachusetts residents save on energy costs throughout the hot summer: Manage energy costs when the summer heat arrives: • Adjust thermostats. Setting LICENSE RENEWAL | FROM PAGE 3 cal businesses can’t afford the lease to be in Encore.” Ward 6 Councillor Peter Pietrantonio interjected that any such rent should not count towards the amount of money Encore is spending in the city. “We try to be good corporate citizens,” McAnneny responded, citing contributions and Encore employee volunteer work at local food pantries and with Little League baseball and the Mystic River Watershed Association. “I’d like to hear where we’re falling short.” She also said Encore donated $1.3 million to food pantries, hospitals and other nonprofit organizations in the greater a thermostat to a higher, reasonable temperature while at home and adjusting it even higher when away from home can help save energy. Lowering the thermostat below the desired setting will not cool a home faster and might result in unnecessary energy consumption. • Run fans with air-conditioning. Oscillating or box fans near air-conditioning vents can improve cold air flow throughout a room. • Close window coverings. Ambient sunlight can heat a room. Turning off unused lighting and drawing window blinds to reduce heat will keep air-conditioning from running more than needed. • Charge electric vehicles overnight. Shifting electric vehicle charging to overnight hours can earn customers offpeak charging rewards and reduce stress on the grid. • Visit ngrid.com/hereforyou. Learn about residential, multifamily and commercial energy efficiency programs and rebates and find more information on ways to save energy and reduce energy costs. Tips for improving energy efficiency at home: • Sign up for a Home Energy Assessment. National Grid connects customers with an energy specialist who will create a customized energy report and provide energy-saving products, such as advanced power strips, low-flow showerheads Everett area that also serve local residents. Pietrantonio also suggested contracts be given directly to Everett vendors, without a bidding process. “We are a publicly traded company with responsibilities to shareholders,” McAnneny answered. “We have to get a return on our investments.” In further discussion, Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins said that large companies have the knowledge and resources to bid on contracts that smaller, local companies don’t. She suggested Encore be present at job fairs and participate in City of Everett run educational sessions for businesses on how to procure bids. and programmable thermostats, all at no cost. • Weatherize homes with insulation and air sealing upgrades. Properly insulating and sealing a home are cost-effective ways to boost energy efficiency. Weatherization can help lower heating and cooling costs by up to 15 percent and decrease drafts to improve comfort and humidity control all year long. Customers might qualify for 75-100% off approved insulation and air sealing improvements after completing a home energy assessment. • Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy, last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lighting and emit less heat. • Service cooling equipment. Proactively scheduling maintenance for central air-conditioning or heat pump systems helps ensure the unit is running efficiently before peak summer use. • Replace air filters. Check air filters every one to two months during the summer. Dirty filters can restrict airflow, forcing a system to work harder, reducing its efficiency. Clean filters help air-conditioners work better and last longer. • Vacuum air intake vents and keep them clear. Vacuum air vents to remove dust, and move household items away from intake vents to keep the Despite their misgivings, Martins, Matewsky and Smith voted to renew the innholder’s license, along with Councillors-at-Large Michael Marchese and Katy Rogers, Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro and Ward 4 Councillor Holly Garcia and Ward 5 Councillor Vivian Nguyen. Pietrantonio, Councillor at-Large Guerline Alcy Jabouin and Ward 1 Councillor Michele Capone dissented. Councillor at-Large Michael Marchese was absent. Capone took issue with the number of Everett residents working at the casino, which she feels is low. “We give preference to Everett residents in hiring, but are a 5-star resort,” McAnneny responded. “We airflow moving. • Consider installing a smart thermostat; they always offer greater control of energy usage. Eligible models can earn rewards through the ConnectedSolutions program for small temperature adjustments during the hottest days of summer. Instant rebates on smart thermostats are available through the Mass Save marketplace. • Prep for any planned time away from home. If there is a road trip or vacation on the calendar, take extra steps, such as turning up the thermostat to prevent air-conditioning from running while no one is home. Help with managing energy bills: National Grid offers various programs and services to help customers save energy, manage their bills and access financial assistance. National Grid customers can now sign up for a Payment Assistance Bundle. The bundle combines three helpful solutions to make it easier for managing energy costs and paying down past due amounts over a 12-month period. • Deferred payment agreement: Spread out past-due balance into future monthly payments. • Automatic monthly payments: Automatically deduct payments from your bank account each month and avoid missing due dates. • Budget plan: Break down take service very seriously.” “Are you saying Everett residents are not 5-star,” Capone shot back. “Are you looking down on the residents of Everett?” “I’m not, but Everett residents have to meet the standards of a 5-star resort,” McAnneny answered. “I guess we were 5-star when you wanted to do business with Everett,” Capone commented with the last word. Other business Alcy Jabouin cast the lone dissenting vote against borrowing $2 million for a Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Feasibility Study for a new High School. annual energy costs into balanced monthly payments, making it easier to budget and plan expenses. Customers can access energy usage graphs via their National Grid “My Account” page or on the Mobile App, which can help them better understand, track and manage their energy usage month-to-month. Residential customers interested in enrolling in the Payment Assistance Bundle or another bill assistance program can contact a Customer Service Specialist at 1-800-233-5325 or visit ngrid.com/hereforyou to learn more. National Grid event in Everett On Thursday, June 11, National Grid customer assistance representatives will engage with Everett customers at Everett City Hall (Room 25) from 3:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will cover the following: • Summer energy-saving solutions, payment assistance programs, budget billing, the tiered discount rate program and the arrears management program • Expanded “Senior Power Hour” events to provide direct assistance to elders, who are more vulnerable to increased heat Attendees are encouraged to visit https://www.nationalgridus.com/customer-assistance-events to confirm dates, times and locations. “We had studies before that went nowhere,” she said. “I’m not against a new High School; we need the space, but we keep having feasibility studies that sit somewhere that we don’t use and don’t know where they are.” She wondered if they could be used instead or in addition to a new one. Smith told her previous feasibility signees were on the elementary schools and a Middle School, and a new study is a requirement of the MSBA to enter the funding process to rehabilitate an existing school or build a new one. She also said any reimbursement the City receives from the MSBA can be applied to the Feasibility Study.
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