Project SHARE Fund Receives Nearly $500,000 in Fuel Assistance Donations for NYSEG and RG&E Customers

Fund Helps Those Facing Emergencies Who Have Exhausted Other Options

BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – April 11, 2019 – The Avangrid Foundation along with NYSEG and RG&E, subsidiaries of AVANGRID, announced available assistance for families faced with financial struggles and energy bills. The Avangrid Foundation, the primary philanthropic arm of AVANGRID, donated $400,000 to HeartShare Human Services of New York to support the Project SHARE Fund. The Project SHARE Fund provides assistance for those who have exhausted resources and are forced to choose between their energy bills and other critical everyday necessities. The fuel assistance programs help those struggling with their energy costs to stay warm and keep the lights on.

The assistance program also received approximately $100,000 through contributions by customers and employees of NYSEG and RG&E as well as community partner Dominion Transmission.

“This fund helps families with emergency energy assistance when they need it most,” said Carl A. Taylor, president and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E. “We are grateful for our partnership with HeartShare Human Services of New York, the administrator of the heating fund. We are also grateful to Dominion Transmission, the Avangrid Foundation, our customers and employees who continue to show their support for the Project SHARE Heating Fund by making contributions that helped customers during difficult times.”

In 2018, approximately 1,281 individuals or families benefited from Project SHARE grants:

  • 758 NYSEG households received more than $229,996 in grants;
  • 466 RG&E households received $152,147 in grants;
  • 57 other suppliers of fuel and heating services to NYSEG and RG&E households received grants totaling $19,950. 

"Dominion Energy is proud to partner with New York State Electric and Gas, Rochester Gas & Electric and HeartShare Human Services of New York to help support upstate New York residents in need," Stan J. Ossowski, Manager, Gas Operations, Dominion Energy Transmission. “As an organization, we are committed to supporting meaningful projects like the Project SHARE Energy Fund that encourage energy efficiency and provide customer assistance."

"When we see corporations like Dominion continue to show support for families in the North Country, we are shown the meaning of corporate citizenship. Dominion along with the Avangrid Foundation continue for more than 30 years to step up and help families that are facing financial difficulties," Joe Guarinello, VP of Energy Programs at HeartShare.

Dominion Transmission is an interstate pipeline company supplying natural gas to parts of the NYSEG and RG&E service areas.

To make a contribution to the fund, NYSEG and RG&E ask employees and customers to consider:

  • Automatic Giving – adding a whole dollar amount to future bills.
  • Adding exactly $1, $2 or $5 to any NYSEG or RG&E bill payment.

To learn more about the Project SHARE Heating Fund, Automatic Giving and eligibility for grants:
NYSEG: https://bit.ly/2FeOXQJ
RG&E: https://bit.ly/2sejNjZ

Active members of the military and veterans who have been honorably or generally discharged from the military receive special consideration for Project SHARE grants.

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