Suffolk County Police have arrested two men for using identifying information of eight business in Suffolk County on National Grid rebate applications, costing the utility approximately $100,000 in energy rebates.
Starting in September 2009, Ralph Bianco, 53, and John Glaser, 53, applied for energy efficiency rebates using the identifying information of eight businesses in Suffolk County. National Grid offered an Energy Efficiency Program for commercial properties to perform upgrades that would conserve energy. Bianco, a heating and air-conditioning technician, applied for rebates under the program with the assistance of Glaser, who was employed by National Grid. The efficiency upgrades were not performed and the applications were submitted without the knowledge of the business owners. The fraud was revealed approximately two months ago when an Amityville business owner became suspicious upon learning that someone had applied for a rebate using his company’s information. A rebate was never issued because the tax identification number for the business was not included on the fraudulent application. Following the business owner’s complaint, both National Grid and the Suffolk County Police Ident...