National Grid pre-recorded phone calls $38.5M class action settlement

Updates:

• Top Class Actions readers reported this settlement paying out $7 in a second distribution.
• Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got paid!

• This class action lawsuit is paying out $50.90 as of Sept. 12, 2022.
• Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got paid!

National Grid companies agreed to pay $38.5 million as part of a class action lawsuit settlement resolving claims they violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) with pre-recorded phone calls.

The settlement benefits individuals who received a pre-recorded call or call using an artificial voice from National Grid between March 9, 2011, and Oct. 29, 2021. National Grid operates under the following entities:

• KeySpan Gas East Corp. (New York)
• The Brooklyn Union Gas Co. (New York)
• Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (New York)
• Boston Gas Co. (Massachusetts)
• Colonial Gas Co. (Massachusetts; now part of Boston Gas)
• Massachusetts Electric Co. (Massachusetts)
• Nantucket Electric Co. (Massachusetts)
• The Narragansett Electric Co. (Rhode Island)

National Grid is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in America, according to the company’s website. The utility reportedly provides electricity, natural gas, and clean energy to over 20 million people in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. 

Unfortunately, these millions of customers may have been victims of TCPA violations by National Grid. A class action lawsuit against the utility claimed National Grid placed automatic or prerecorded calls to consumers without their consent.

The calls allegedly related to a bill payment, an “important matter” about a National Grid bill, a disconnect notice, and other topics. According to the National Grid class action lawsuit, these calls were made using an automatic dialing system and/or pre-recorded or artificial voice messages.

Plaintiffs in the case claimed the National Grid automatic phone calls violated the TCPA, a federal law that protects consumers from unlawful telemarketing schemes. Under the law, businesses like National Grid must get consumer consent before placing automated phone calls or they run the risk of paying penalties of up to $1,500 per violation.

National Grid hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $38.5 million to resolve the TCPA claims against it.

Under the terms of the pre-recorded phone calls settlement, Class Members can collect a cash payment from the multimillion-dollar settlement fund.

Payments will vary depending on the number of claims filed by Class Members, but Class counsel estimates payments will range between $50 and $150 per claimant.

In addition to providing cash payments, National Grid will also make changes to its calling policies in order to align with TCPA requirements. Specifically, the company will stop using pre-recorded or artificial voice calls to contact consumers who haven’t provided their consent.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is May 12, 2022. 

The final approval hearing in the pre-recorded phone calls settlement is scheduled for June 10, 2022.

In order to receive payments from the settlement, Class Members must submit a valid claim form by May 12, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits individuals who received a pre-recorded call or call using an artificial voice from National Grid between March 9, 2011, and Oct. 29, 2021. National Grid operates under the following entities:

• KeySpan Gas East Corp. (New York)
• The Brooklyn Union Gas Co. (New York)
• Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (New York)
• Boston Gas Co. (Massachusetts)
• Colonial Gas Co. (Massachusetts; now part of Boston Gas)
• Massachusetts Electric Co. (Massachusetts)
• Nantucket Electric Co. (Massachusetts)
• The Narragansett Electric Co. (Rhode Island)

Potential Award

Estimate between $50 and $150

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase applicable.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

05/12/2022

Case Name

Jenkins et al. v. National Grid USA Service Company Inc., et al., Case No. 15-cv-1219, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Final Hearing

06/10/2022

Settlement Website

NationalGridTCPASettlement.com

Claims Administrator

National Grid TCPA Settlement Administrator
1650 Arch St., Suite 2210
Philadelphia, PA 19103
info@nationalgridtcpasettlement.com
855-784-1955

Class Counsel

Joseph S. Tusa
TUSA PC

Douglas I. Cuthbertson
LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN LLP

Defense Counsel

Richard H. Brown
DAY PITNEY LLP