Arrearage forgiveness program helps eligible customers eliminate overdue balances

MANCHESTER, N.H. (March 28, 2022) – Offering an additional energy assistance option for customers in the Granite State, Eversource today launched its New Start program in New Hampshire. New Start is an arrearage forgiveness program that helps income-eligible customers eliminate the outstanding balance on their account at the time of enrollment in as little as 12 months by forgiving a set portion of that balance with each on-time, monthly payment by the customer.

Enrollment in New Start for Eversource customers in New Hampshire begins today, March 28. To be eligible, customers must have a financial hardship status on their account and have a past due balance of $150 or more that is 60 or more days past due.

“With many of our customers and communities continuing to face financial difficulties due to the pandemic and other challenges, the need for enhanced energy assistance options is as great as ever,” said Eversource Vice President of Customer Operations Jess Cain. “New Start is an established and proven model to help support customers by getting them caught up on their bill, also ultimately saving all of our other customers from long-term costs. Our dedicated customer care representatives work every day to help customers find the best payment assistance solution in their specific case, and we’re excited to have New Start as an additional option to offer in the Granite State.”

Once the customer is enrolled in New Start, Eversource will review the account billing history and set a monthly payment based on the average regular monthly bill during the past 12 months, minus any energy assistance the customer may receive. When a New Start monthly payment is made, the energy company then eliminates, or forgives, a set portion in the total balance of the account. The amount forgiven each month is calculated by taking the total balance at the time of enrollment and dividing it by 12—so that with each on-time monthly payment, 1/12th of the enrollment balance is eliminated, up to $12,000 annually.

In addition to New Start, Eversource offers and helps connect customers to a variety of assistance and payment programs, including the New Hampshire Electric Assistance Program, Neighbor Helping Neighbor and federal and state programs such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program and New Hampshire Homeowner Assistance Fund.

Payment plans are also available to all customers to pay their past-due balance over a period of time, and any customer enrolled in a payment plan who is current with their payment terms cannot have their service disconnected.

Customers can visit Eversource.com to learn more about the available payment programs and resources, or sign up for New Start in just a few simple steps. They can also call Eversource at 844-273-7760. For more information on how to apply for federal energy assistance, visit 211nh.org. For more information on the New Hampshire rental and homeowner assistance programs, visit homehelpnh.org/.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, Eversource is New Hampshire’s largest electric utility, serving nearly 528,000 homes and businesses in 211 cities and towns, and also supplies water to approximately 10,200 homes and businesses in seven communities. Eversource is proud to be recognized as the #1 contributor to United Way in New Hampshire. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.

CONTACT:
William Hinkle
603-634-2228
william.hinkle@eversource.com