Connecticut Gas Companies Launch "Get Connected!" Public Information Initiative

BERLIN, Conn. and NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- There's no question that many Connecticut residents, businesses, leaders and officials are concerned over the rising cost of fuel oil.  And while hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses are poised to take advantage of the abundant supply of cheaper and cleaner natural gas, many lack the information they need to begin the process of converting.

"Get Connected!" is a public information and education program created by the Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG) and Yankee Gas companies.  The goal of the program is simple:  to help Connecticut residents, businesses, municipalities and others better understand the benefits -- as well as the process -- of converting to natural gas.

"The goal is to get affordable and cleaner burning natural gas to homes and businesses in our state," said Anthony Marone, vice president, Customer and Business Services, UIL Holdings Corp., parent company of SCG and CNG. "This initiative will make it easier for people to know the facts and determine if they can get connected."

"Natural gas customers benefit from both price and efficiency," said Rod Powell, president and CEO, Yankee Gas. "Today, natural gas furnaces and boilers are up to 96 percent efficient -- so whether it's for homes or businesses natural gas is the most cost-effective fuel choice."

Based on present fuel oil and natural gas prices, the average homeowner heating with natural gas will pay $1,800 less each year than the average homeowner heating with fuel oil. For large commercial businesses including large retail stores, the cost to heat with natural gas is $3,300 less annually than fuel oil. Annual energy bills for large industrial customers heating with natural gas, including manufacturers that use natural gas for heating and production, are $25,000 lower than for their oil-heating competitors.

Depending on where in Connecticut a customer lives, the supply of natural gas will be delivered by Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG) or Yankee Gas. 

CNG delivers natural gas to 160,000 customers in central Connecticut, and SCG delivers natural gas to 178,000 customers in 22 Connecticut communities. CNG and SCG are wholly-owned subsidiaries of New Haven-based UIL Holdings Corp. Berlin-based Yankee Gas, a Northeast Utilities company, serves more than 213,000, customers in 71 Connecticut cities and towns.

Those interested in learning more about converting from fuel oil to natural gas can join in the conversation and Get Connected at www.facebook.com/getconnectedct or www.twitter.com/getconnectedct. The social media sites are specifically designed to offer the public more information and to serve as a hub for conversation, sharing stories and asking questions.

About UIL Holdings Corporation:
Headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, UIL Holdings Corporation (NYSE:UIL) is a diversified energy delivery company serving more than 700,000 electric and natural gas utility customers in 66 communities across two states, with combined total assets of over $4 billion.

UIL is the parent company of The United Illuminating Company (UI), The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), and The Berkshire Gas Company (Berkshire), each more than 100 years old. UI provides for the transmission and delivery of electricity and other energy related services for Connecticut's Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas. SCG and CNG are natural gas distribution companies that serve customers in Connecticut, while Berkshire Gas serves natural gas customers in western Massachusetts. UIL employs more than 1,850 people in the New England region.  For more information on UIL Holdings, visit http://www.uil.com.

About Yankee Gas:
Yankee Gas, a Northeast Utilities company (NYSE:NU) is Connecticut's largest natural gas distribution company, serving more than 213,000 customers in 71 cities and towns.  For more information, please visit www.yankeegas.com, like us on Facebook (facebook.com/YankeeGas) and follow us on Twitter @YankeeGas.

Northeast Utilities (NU) operates New England's largest energy delivery company. NU and its companies are committed to safety, reliability, environmental leadership and stewardship, as well as expanding energy options for its more than 3.5 million electric and natural gas customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. NU is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NU. Learn more about NU and its family of companies at www.nu.com.

SOURCE Get Connected!