Quick-pick
Which channel matches your situation
You want to forget about it
Enrol in DirectPay via your online account. The full balance is withdrawn 15 days after the bill is sent, before the due date. Zero late fees, zero shut-off notices.
You want control of the date
Use recurring payments (weekly, twice a month or monthly) and pick a fixed dollar limit. Overflow rolls to the next cycle.
You need to pay today
Call SpeedPay by Western Union at 1-888-849-4310. Card accepted. Service fee applies, $600 cap per transaction.
You only deal in cash
Find an authorized payment agent (drug stores, corner stores). Allow up to 3 business days to post.
The 6 ways to pay, in order of speed and safety
Online account (instant, free)
Log in at your National Grid online account and pay from a checking or savings account. Funds are pulled the same day. No service charge.
DirectPay (auto-pay, the shut-off shield)
DirectPay withdraws the full bill amount automatically 15 days after each bill is sent, before the deadline. Takes 2 to 3 weeks to set up. Cancels only when you tell it to.
Why it matters: missed payments are the biggest single trigger for a New York shut-off notice. Auto-pay removes that risk entirely.
Recurring payments (you set the cap)
Fix a weekly, semi-monthly or monthly amount. If the actual bill is lower, only the bill amount comes out. If higher, you cover the gap manually or carry it forward with a 1.5% late fee. Activated in about 1 day.
Phone via SpeedPay (card, with fee)
Call 1-888-849-4310. Western Union SpeedPay charges a flat service fee per transaction, caps at $600, accepts major credit and debit cards. Up to 3 days to post.
Mail (slowest, paper trail)
Send check or money order, payable to "Electricity and Gas payments", with your account number on the back and the paper stub enclosed. Address:
National Grid
P.O. Box 11742
Newark, NJ 07101-4742
In person at an authorized agent
Walk-in pay centers and authorized agents (Walgreens, Rite Aid, certain Duane Reade and corner-store partners) accept cash, check or card. Service fees vary by agent. Bring your bill stub. Up to 3 days to post.
Behind on the bill? Call before the shut-off notice
National Grid offers 11 financial-assistance programs alongside two formal deferred-payment options. The earlier you call, the more options stay open.
Collection arrangement
National Grid postpones the due date. The full balance is still owed by the new deadline, and late fees still apply if you slip again.
Payment agreement
Past-due amount becomes monthly instalments after a down-payment. Eligibility rules apply, but most residential customers qualify.
Payment Arrangements line: 1-800-443-1837. Same number reaches Credit and Collections.
11 assistance programs available
- ·Low Income Discount Program.
- ·Low Income Electric Discount Program.
- ·Low Income Electric Heating Discount Program.
- ·Low Income Gas Discount Program.
- ·AffordAbility delivery discount.
- ·Serious Illness or Medical Emergency hold.
- ·Third Party Notification.
- ·Hospitalized Customer Assistance Plan.
- ·Braille bills and Eye Saver service.
- ·Consumer Advocates desk.
- ·Care & Share Energy Fund.
- ·HEAP intake via OTDA.
Frequently asked questions
For customers whose only issue is forgetting the due date, yes. DirectPay pulls the full bill 15 days after issue, well inside the New York Public Service Commission's 20-day window. The only remaining risk is an insufficient-funds rejection, which triggers a missed-payment notice rather than an instant shut-off.
No. Card payments go through Western Union SpeedPay at 1-888-849-4310, which charges a service fee. Bank-account payments via the online portal are free.
National Grid, P.O. Box 11742, Newark, NJ 07101-4742. Use the envelope that came with the bill if you still have it.
DirectPay always pulls the full bill, no more. If you separately overpaid (for example you mailed a check and then DirectPay still ran), the credit applies to the next bill.
It depends on the agent. National Grid's walk-in centers charge nothing, but authorized third-party agents (drugstores, corner stores) set their own service fees. Confirm by phone before you go.
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