UI, SCG Provide Tools and Resources to Promote the Success of Black and Minority-Owned Business in the Community

In celebration of Black Business Month, companies sponsor New Haven’s Black Wall Street Festival, providing businesses with no-cost energy efficiency assessments


NEW HAVEN, Conn. — August 15, 2024 — In celebration of Black Business Month, officials with United Illuminating (UI) and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), subsidiaries of Avangrid (NYSE: AGR), today announced their participation and sponsorship of the third annual New Haven Black Wall Street Festival. The event will take place on Saturday, August 17, on the New Haven Green (250 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06510). Energy efficiency experts from EnergizeCT and the Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program will be available to meet with customers from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, offering no-cost, no-obligation energy efficiency assessments. This event builds on the success of the 2023 New Haven Small Business Energy Efficiency Campaign, during which two businesses in the Dixwell neighborhood received energy efficiency assessments and nearly $2,000 in financial incentives for implementing recommended energy-saving improvements.

“It is a privilege to once again participate in the annual New Haven Black Wall Street Festival, which promotes the success of local entrepreneurs and aligns with our companies’ goals of supporting local business owners and fostering economic growth in New Haven,” said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Gas. “I encourage business owners to take advantage of our Small Business Energy Efficiency Program and schedule a time for our team to visit their establishments. Our experts can assess their lighting, HVAC, and refrigeration systems to identify areas for improvement. Enhancing the energy efficiency of your business is one of the simplest and most effective ways to save on utility bills while reducing your carbon footprint. We look forward to engaging directly with business owners and providing them with the resources and tools they need to succeed.”

The third annual Black Wall Street Festival is a weeklong event, running from Monday, August 12 to Sunday, August 18. Featuring over 200 vendors, a film festival, a fashion show, and an entrepreneur party. UI and SCG have proudly sponsored the festival for the past two years, contributing over $5,000 to support its mission of highlighting Black and Brown business owners and creatives, dismantling systemic racism in New Haven, and revitalizing Black and Brown economic wealth across the city.

On Saturday, August 17, business owners are invited to visit UI and SCG tabling event to speak with representatives from the EnergizeCT Small Business Energy Advantage program to learn more about the no-cost, no-obligation energy efficiency assessments. These assessments will provide business owners with practical solutions to help them save money and energy while promoting comfort for customers and employees, such as window sealing, insulation upgrades, or switching to LED lightbulbs. Many of these upgrades qualify for up to an 80 percent incentive up-front through EnergizeCT’s Small Business Energy Advantage program.

The Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program is a commercial energy efficiency initiative through EnergizeCT, an effort by the Energy Efficiency Fund, Connecticut Green Bank, the State, and local electric and gas utilities dedicated to empowering Connecticut communities to make smarter energy choices. The program offers small businesses who use less than 1,250,00 kilowatts annually across all their CT properties, a no-cost energy assessment, a comprehensive proposal of all eligible energy efficiency measures, incentives to cover a portion of the installed cost, and zero-interest and low-cost financing for qualifying businesses.

“We look forward to attending the New Haven Black Wall Street Festival to help enroll more customers into our Small Business Energy Efficiency Campaign,” said Hammad Chaudhry, Senior Manager of Conservation & Load Management at United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Natural Gas. “Our goal is to have more diverse and minority-owned businesses participate in our programs and reap the numerous benefits. This initiative goes beyond just savings; it empowers minority business owners to enhance their sustainability and competitiveness through lower energy consumption. By providing these businesses with the tools and resources to reduce their energy usage, we help them build a stronger, more resilient foundation for long-term success. We are committed to supporting the growth and prosperity of Black and minority-owned businesses in our community, ensuring they have the opportunity to thrive and contribute to a sustainable future.”

In 2023, the New Haven Small Business Energy Efficiency Campaign was a collaborative effort between UI and SCG’s Conservation & Load Management team, the City of New Haven Small Business Resource Center, and the Office of Climate and Sustainability. During the weeklong campaign, vendors from the EnergizeCT Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program visited small businesses across New Haven energy efficiency assessments. In the Dixwell neighborhood, Dope N Delicious and Mae’s Flower and Gift Shop were the first to receive these assessments. Both businesses have since implemented the audit recommendations and received incentives through the SBEA program.

Dope N Delicious upgraded their kitchen, restaurant, and exterior sign lighting, receiving $1,933.34 in financial incentives. They also invested in pipe installation, earning an additional $610.41 in gas incentives. After incentives, the total cost was $922.93, which will be financed over 48 months at $19.23 per month on their utility bill.

Mae’s Flower and Gift Shop implemented the Small Business Energy Efficiency recommendations. They upgraded lighting in the storefront, reach-in coolers, and exterior sign, receiving $912.34 in financial incentives. Additionally, they installed water-saving separators on faucets and pipe insulation, earning $699.39 in gas incentives. The total cost after incentives was $1,259.69, which will be financed over 48 months at $26.24 per month on their utility bill.

For more information on the Small Business Energy Efficiency Program visit, uinet.com/smallbusinessenergyadvantage.com. To schedule your no-obligation energy assessment with a Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program-authorized contractor, call 877.WISE.USE (877.947.3873) or visit EnergizeCT.com.

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