NORWICH – Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) is once again participating in the State of Connecticut’s Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) program and contributing $150,000 in tax credit payments to two local organizations to support their energy-efficiency projects.
The NAA is a tax credit program administered by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services that allows businesses such as NPU to claim a State tax credit for cash contributions made directly to municipally-approved projects of local tax-exempt agencies.
“The Neighborhood Assistance Act is a great way for us to invest with community partners and keep ratepayer funds right here in Norwich,” said Jeff Brining, General Manager of NPU. “This fantastic program has provided critical funding to great nonprofits for many years, helping them save money on projects that decrease their energy costs.”
Through the NAA, the following organizations will receive funding from NPU in 2025:
Leffingwell Inn ($100,000) to support the replacement of an inefficient and failing furnace at the iconic museum on Washington Street. The project also includes maintenance and sealing on the building’s duct system which will improve energy efficiency. In 2025, the existing furnace was damaged which required the museum to be closed for nearly two months.
Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities ($50,000) to support the replacement of a single, older boiler system that is currently serving three residential units with three individual systems that each will serve one unit at 130 Washington Street. The funding will also be used to support the replacement of aging boilers with modern, efficient units at 91 South 2nd Street in Taftville.
Each year, NPU pays Gross Receipts Tax to the State of Connecticut from the purchase of its electricity. The NAA limits participating organizations to $150,000 per year in tax credits and the statewide program has a cap of $5 million.
Since 2022, NPU has been exempt from the Gross Receipts Tax on its purchase of natural gas, which saves customers more than $950,000 each year.