No-moratorium!
National Grid to lift embargo on new BK gas customers
BK Nets unveil new ‘Bed-Stuy’ jersey
The Brooklyn Nets new limited edition jersey
Courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets
COURIER LIFE, NOV. 29-DEC. 5, 2019 3
BY JESSICA PARKS
National Grid announced
that it will immediately resume
connecting Brooklyn
customers to natural gas
on Monday — ending a sixmonth
standoff between Gov.
Andrew Cuomo and the British
based utility company
that left thousands of residents
without heat.
“This agreement is a victory
for customers,” Cuomo
said. “National Grid will
pay a signifi cant penalty
for its failure to address the
supply issue, its abuse of its
customers, and the adverse
economic impact they have
caused.”
National Grid implemented
a moratorium on new
gas hookups for new customers
in May, shortly after state
regulators nixed plans for a
23-mile long gas pipeline off
of the Coney Island coast.
Elected offi cials overwhelmingly
accused the company
of holding New Yorkers
hostage in an effort to
get permission for the pipeline
— including in a letter
penned by 17 Council members
in July.
And the embargo on new
customers was particularly
devastating for Kings
County entrepreneurs, including
many would-be business
owners who were unable
to open their doors due
to lack of gas.
The Interim President of
National Grid — which runs
a state-granted monopoly in
Brooklyn, Queens and parts
of Long Island — hit back on
the strong-arming accusations,
arguing that the moratorium
was a necessary evil
spurred by supply shortages
that would inevitably come if
the pipeline was not built.
“Every decision we make
is driven by National Grid’s
commitment to provide safe
and reliable service to our
customers, including the decision
to implement the moratorium,”
said Badar Khan.
“We understand the frustrations
of everyone who experienced
a delay in service during
this period and regret
that we did not provide more
notice or explanation to our
customers about the moratorium.”
The parties reached the
new agreement to resume gas
hookups amid calls for state
regulators to strip National
Grid of their state-granted
monopoly status — which
Cuomo had threatened to do
if new customers continued
to be denied service.
Under the newly struck
deal, the utility giant will
present solutions to meet
long-term supply needs
throughout the company’s
coverage areas — with a
June 2020 deadline to identify
a plan, slated to be implemented
by Fall 2021.
Also, National Grid has
agreed to pay a $36 million
penalty to compensate customers
who were adversely
impacted by the moratorium
and to support energy-effi -
ciency measures and clean
gas solutions.
To ensure that National
Grid respects the newly
forged agreement, the state
has appointed an independent
monitor to oversee gas
supply operations which will
be paid for by the gas company.
National Grid’s newlymade
concessions bring
about an abrupt end to their
prolonged power-play, which
not only affected residents
and small businesses dealing
with new construction,
but also city agencies — with
one project to construct a
comfort station in Canarsie
suffering a months-long delay
after the gas company refused
to provide a gas line.
State Attorney General
Letitia James, whose offi ce
had been probing National
Grid’s questionable tactics,
celebrated the deal as a win
for New Yorkers.
“My offi ce launched an
investigation after hearing
about the profound effect the
moratorium has had on individuals,
small businesses,
and New York’s economy,”
said James. “As winter begins,
New Yorkers can rest
assured that National Grid’s
moratorium is fi nally over
and the thousands of homeowners
and businesses denied
service will be able to
turn their heat on.”
Governor Cuomo announced an investigation into National Grid in May for denying gas service to new customers.
Photo by Jessica Parks
BY JOE HITI
Brooklyn Nets fans
lined up outside the Barclays
Center on Thursday
to be among the fi rst to don
the team’s new limited-edition
jersey, which honors
both Bedford-Stuyvesant
and the legendary rapper
Biggie Smalls.
“Pretty f--g fresh,” said
former Bedford-Stuyvesant
resident Sam L. as he
was waited outside Barclays
Center to snag a jersey.
The uniforms are emblazoned
with “Bed-Stuy”
in all caps across the chest,
which pays homage to
Brooklyn’s own Notorious
B.I.G., one of the most infl uential
voices in hip-hop.
“If you’re a hip-hop
person it makes you feel
included,” said Bedford-
Stuyvesant resident Glen
Wallace. “You don’t have
to be from Bed-Stuy to enjoy
it.”
The Nets themselves will
debut the jersey at their
Nov. 29 matchup against
the Boston Celtics, and will
sport the limited-edition
uniform for 28 games this
season.
The Kings County basketball
club made a big
splash this offseason with
the acquisition of two of the
top free agents available
this summer — Kevin Durrant
through a trade and
sign that saw the Nets sending
D’Angelo Russell to the
Golden State Warriors, and
Kyrie Irving through free
agency.