Jhe WE The State of Massachusetts introduced the National Grid Arrears Management Program (AMP) which helps customers manage their current energy bills while addressing outstanding debts during times of crisis.
Depending on the amount they owe, customers have the option to pay off all of their outstanding debt over a period of 12 months or more if they have a balance of at least $300 past due for more than 60 days.
How do public service forgiveness programs work?
According to the North Shore Community Action Programs website, a monthly budget payment amount will be determined by National Grid after reviewing the customer’s account billing history and considering each month’s average billing. Once a monthly payment is decided, it must be made on time each month in order to continue in the program.
During this time, a percentage of the customer’s overdue charges will be waived or ‘forgiven’ when a monthly AMP payment is made, reducing the sum due to National Grid.
It should be noted that the total amount outstanding is multiplied by the number of months in the agreement to determine the amount that will be released each month. The North Shore Community Action Programs provide an example of how the program works.
“A budget amount of $150 per month and an outstanding balance of $1,200,” reads their website.
“For each month that a required budget payment of $150 is made on the current bill, National Grid will reduce your outstanding balance by $100 (calculated as: $1,200 12 = $100).
“As long as a client continues to pay their AMP budget each month, 1/12th of the outstanding balance will be eliminated. After 12 months of participation in the program, your outstanding balance will be reduced to zero.”
To be eligible, customer must be a National Grid Massachusetts residential customer with active service and account balance must be $300 or more and at least 60 days past due.