Con Ed to Stabilize Prices, Gov. Hochul Announces Aid for Rising Utility Bills

By Yehudit Garmaise

After many residents of Brooklyn and Queens complained that their utility bills doubled and tripled without warning, on Feb. 11, 2022, the NY Public Service Commission (PSC) urged Con Edison to review its billing practices, and just two weeks later, the company responded by saying that it would adjust its billing process to keep prices more stable and improve its communication with customers, Gov. Kathy Hochul reported today. 

The governor responded to the utilities’ rising costs, which she said are caused by increased demand due to colder-than-usual temperatures and an over-reliance on fossil fuels, by announcing financial aid that is available for New Yorkers whose incomes are on the lower end.

One program that has already helped 1.5 million families who are struggling to heat their homes is the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which can provide up to $751 to eligible homeowners and renters: depending on income, household size, and how they heat their homes. 

A family of four, for instance, may have a maximum gross monthly income of $5,249, or an annual gross income of $62,983, and still qualify for benefits. 

Today, the PSC extended its efforts to communicate with New York’s utility companies by sending letters that called on gas and electric companies “to take steps to communicate proactively, protect customers, and mitigate costs impacts wherever possible,” said the governor, who suggested the companies promote consumer payment assistance plans and programs that can reduce energy use.