UI, SCG, CNG Help Customers Prepare for Winter During Heating Assistance Awareness Month

Throughout November, the companies will promote assistance programs and energy savings tips to help customers manage their monthly bills

ORANGE, Conn. - November 4, 2025 - United Illuminating (UI), Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), subsidiaries of Avangrid, Inc., today announced upcoming events and communications to ensure winter readiness during Heating Assistance Awareness Month, observed from November 1 to November 30.

"Now that we have entered November, the temperatures have dropped and many families in Connecticut worry about how they are going to afford their bills," said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of UI, CNG, and SCG. "We offer many programs to our customers that can reduce their monthly utility bills and help them save money by becoming more energy efficient. I encourage our customers to take advantage of these resources and take the opportunity to meet with us in-person at upcoming events."

Throughout the month of November, UI, CNG, and SCG will be sending out bill messages, emails, newsletters, and social media posts about the assistance programs they offer. The next customer enrollment event and information session will be at the Mercy Learning Center in Bridgeport on Tuesday, November 11. At this event, participants in the Mercy Learning Center programs who are also UI and/or SCG customers are able to learn about payment assistance programs they qualify for and enroll on-site with the help of UI and SCG representatives. Customers are also invited to the Hartford Healthcare Medical Mission event in Meriden on Saturday, November 8 to learn more about energy efficiency and assistance programs.

"We like to meet customers where they are to provide essential information and offer in-person support, especially during Heating Assistance Awareness Month," said Tracey Pellela, Vice President of Customer Service at UI, CNG, and SCG. "Throughout the month, we encourage members of our community to attend the in-person events and reach out to us when they need additional support. We are available and ready to help everyone get through the winter safely and comfortably."

Customers who are experiencing financial difficulties and looking for resources to help them manage their energy bills should visit their utility company's respective "Help With Bill" page (https://www.uinet.com/HelpWithBill, https://www.soconngas.com/HelpWithBill, https://www.cngcorp.com/HelpWithBill). There, customers can find more information on financial hardship programs and bill assistance, including:

• Matching Payment Program - Residential customers can lower the amount they owe on energy bills. For every dollar they pay and every dollar they receive from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program or other energy assistance programs, a dollar will be subtracted from the amount they owe.

• Flexible Payment Arrangements - Available to any UI, CNG, or SCG customer, regardless of their income level. These arrangements can be spread out up to 18 months for residential customers and 6 months for non-residential customers. Current payment arrangements may be renegotiated due to a change in financial circumstances per Conn. Agencies Regs. § 16-3-100(b)(3)(A). These arrangements may be discussed confidentially by calling the CNG Customer Care Center at 860-524-8361 (Greater Hartford) or 203-869-6900 (Greenwich), the SCG Customer Care at 800-659-829, or the UI Customer Care Center at 800-722-5584.

• Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) (UI only) - Available to UI customers with a financial hardship status on their account. Based on their household income or receipt of a public assistance benefit, customers may be eligible for a 10 percent or 50 percent discount off their electric bill per month. Customers should visit https://www.uinet.com/LIDR to see if they qualify.

Regardless of their income level, customers can also visit their respective utility's "Smart Energy" page (https://www.uinet.com/SmartEnergy, https://www.soconngas.com/SmartEnergy, and https://www.cngcorp.com/SmartEnergy) for resources on energy efficiency programs, including:

• Home Energy Solutions (HES) / Home Energy Solutions-Income Eligible (HES-IE) - Available to all Connecticut utility customers and administered by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, HES and HES-IE are weatherization programs designed to help customers reduce their energy usage and increase the sustainability of their home or business. The Income Eligible program, which offers additional incentives and cost-savings measures, is specifically designed to help customers with limited income or financial need manage their utility usage and save money on their bill.

• Heating and Cooling System Rebates - Available to all Connecticut customers, utility companies provide rebates and instant discounts for a variety of high-efficiency heating and/or cooling systems, including ductless air source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, and high-efficiency heating systems.

• Multifamily Initiative and Residential New Construction Program - Available to all Connecticut developers and builders, these programs offer opportunities for home-builders to earn incentives for installing energy efficient windows, insulation, appliances, water heaters, and more.

Media Contact:

Angela Baccaro

[email protected]

(203) 836-0874