NJNG Asks State Board To Extend Incentive Programs

New Jersey Natural Gas on Monday petitioned the state Board of Public Utilities to continue its energy-efficiency programs for another four years.

The Wall-based company, headquartered on Wyckoff Road, wants to extend its SAVEGREEN programs, which encourage upgrading homes and businesses with more energy-efficient equipment.

The current SAVEGREEN programs are slated to expire at the end of the year. If the BPU approves the company’s proposal, the programs would run through 2016, according to a company release.

The programs would cost about $2 on a typical monthly energy bill, an increase of about 1.7 percent, according to a company release.

“With this filing, we are looking to build on our record of success helping our customers save energy and money in support of the state’s economic and environmental goals,” said Laurence M. Downes, NJNG chairman and CEO.

Under the energy efficiency programs, customers who install high-efficiency heating or water heating equipment will be eligible to receive a $300 grant. If both high-efficiency heating and water heating equipment are installed at the same time, customers can qualify for a $900 grant or the opportunity to participate in the company’s On-Bill Repayment Plan for up to $6,500 at no interest for five years, according to the release.

After the work is complete, customers will receive a Home Performance with Energy Star audit performed at no cost to identify other energy-efficiency opportunities. Customers who complete the audit and install recommended seal-up and insulation measures within the first six months will be eligible to increase the level of their repayment plan to a combined total of $10,000 and adjust the repayment term from five to 10 years, according to the release.

Customers who qualify for a free weatherization program from the state Clean Energy program already receive these audits free of charge. But in today’s filing, the company has applied to extend these audits to those whose don’t qualify, but have incomes at or below 400 percent of the Federal poverty level, the release says.

The programs under the proposal will also include an oil tank removal grant, offering oil customer who convert to high-effiency natural gas heating a grant of up to $800 for removal of an above-ground tank or $1,200 for an underground tank, the release says.

Similar grants and incentives to small and larger business customers are also available under the proposal, according to the release.

“SAVEGREEN has been an incredible success in helping customers choose energy efficient options and encouraging job creation,” Downes said in the release. “Since the average homeowner replaces their furnace only once every 15 to 20 years, it is critically important that we help make upgrading to high-efficiency equipment the easy choice.”