Wiktor Wise
As the cold weather sets in, many New Yorkers are concerned about the possibility of having their electricity shut off during the winter months. While utility companies can disconnect services for non-payment, there are several protections in place to prevent this from happening, especially for vulnerable residents. In this article, we will outline the steps you can take to avoid an electric shutoff and the resources available to help manage energy bills. We will also discuss your rights as a residential customer and the responsibilities of utility companies to ensure safe and consistent energy supply during the winter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Protection from utility disconnection | November 1 to April 15 |
| Utility disconnection protection | Household with a life support system |
| Utility disconnection protection | Household members are 62 years or older, blind, disabled, or 18 years or younger |
| Utility disconnection protection | Household members with certified medical conditions |
| Utility disconnection protection | Household members with a chronic condition |
| Utility shut-off notice | At least 15 days before disconnection |
| Utility shut-off time | Between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday |
| No utility shut-off on | Public holidays, day before a holiday, two-week period including Christmas and New Year's Day |
| Utility shut-off prevention | Pay current utility bills directly and subtract from rent payments |
| Utility shut-off prevention | Make a payment arrangement with the utility company |
| Utility shut-off prevention | Apply for financial assistance programs like HEAP, Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit |
| Utility shut-off prevention | Contact the Department of Social Services |
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What You'll Learn
- New York state offers protection from utility disconnection from November 1 to April 15
- If you're facing financial hardship, you can apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or HEAP
- If you have a medical condition or are facing a health emergency, there are special safeguards
- If your landlord fails to pay the utility bill, your utility must notify you and other tenants and help you work out a payment plan
- If you receive a Termination Notice, you can pay the overdue bill or make a payment arrangement to keep your utilities from being shut off
New York state offers protection from utility disconnection from November 1 to April 15
New York state also offers financial assistance to those struggling to pay their heating bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides welfare recipients with money to pay for heating fuel and maintain heating equipment. There is also the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit, which can provide eligible homeowners with up to $4,000 for repairs or $8,000 for a replacement of their furnace, boiler, or other direct heating equipment.
It is important to note that these protections do not apply to residents who heat their homes with oil, as there is no statewide policy in place for oil dealers. Additionally, while disconnection during the winter months is more difficult, it is still possible for customers to be disconnected if they fail to make payments on their gas or electric bills.
During the winter, residents are encouraged to contact their local utility company if they are having difficulty keeping up with their bills, as there may be additional protections or payment plans available.
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If you're facing financial hardship, you can apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or HEAP
If you're facing financial hardship, you can apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) in New York. The program helps eligible New Yorkers with heating and cooling their homes. HEAP can help you pay for heating your home and is based on your income and household size.
To be eligible for Tier I, your household's gross income must be at or below the current income guidelines for your household size. Alternatively, at least one adult in your household must be receiving ongoing assistance through Temporary Assistance (TA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Code A SSI. If your household contains a vulnerable individual, such as someone aged 60 or older, under the age of 6, or permanently disabled, the base benefit amount will be increased by $35.
You can apply for HEAP benefits online, in person, or in writing. If you live in New York City, you can apply in person at your HEAP Local District Contact or print and mail the completed application to:
HRA/HEAP
PO Box 1401
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
If you live outside New York City, you can also apply in person at your HEAP Local District Contact or print and mail the application to the same address as above.
In addition to financial help with heating fuel, New York offers funds for homeowners to maintain and repair heating equipment. The Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit can provide up to $4,000 for repairs or $8,000 for replacements of essential heating equipment like furnaces and boilers.
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If you have a medical condition or are facing a health emergency, there are special safeguards
- Your doctor or the local Board of Health must notify your utility company via a "doctor's certificate" that you have a "medical emergency" that will worsen if your utility services are shut off. If approved, the utility company will maintain your service for 30 days.
- During this 30-day period, you must make a reasonable effort to pay your utility bills and work with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to establish a payment arrangement.
- If you are unable to pay your bill in full, you can contact your utility company to set up a payment plan. The company is legally required to offer a "fair and equitable" deferred payment agreement (DPA) based on your financial situation.
- If you are facing financial hardship, you may be eligible for additional protections. Electric, gas, and private water companies cannot shut off your service if you cannot afford to pay your bills due to financial hardship, especially if it is related to your medical condition.
- In some cases, you may need to fill out a financial hardship form and provide proof of your medical condition or the impact on your financial situation.
- If you or someone in your household is 62 years or older, blind, or disabled, the utility company will make special attempts to contact you before shutting off your service. They will work with you to establish a payment agreement or obtain payment from a social services agency.
- If there is an infant under one year old in your household, you may be eligible for additional protections, but you must provide proof of the child's age.
- In the event of a billing dispute, you can file a complaint with your utility provider or the PSC regarding the amount owed.
Remember, while these safeguards are in place to protect those with medical conditions or health emergencies, you are still responsible for making reasonable efforts to pay your utility bills and working with the appropriate agencies to establish payment arrangements.
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If your landlord fails to pay the utility bill, your utility must notify you and other tenants and help you work out a payment plan
If your landlord fails to pay the utility bill, your first step should be to contact the utility company and inform them that it is a tenant-occupied property. This is important because, in some cases, the utility company may assume the landlord lives at the address and may not notify you of an impending shut-off.
In most states, it is illegal for landlords to shut off utilities, even if the tenant stops paying rent. Additionally, tenants are generally not subject to utility shutoff when their landlord fails to pay. In such cases, the utility company may hold the landlord responsible for unpaid bills, especially if the utilities are in the landlord's name or if there is no clear agreement regarding utility payment responsibilities.
To avoid a utility shutoff, tenants in some states, such as Minnesota, can choose to pay the overdue utility bill on the landlord's account and deduct that amount from their rent. This is known as a pay-and-deduct law. However, tenants must inform their landlord before taking this action. It is important to note that the tenant is usually only required to pay the amount necessary to maintain service and is generally not responsible for any back payments.
If you are facing difficulty in keeping up with your utility bills, you can explore financial assistance programs. For instance, New York State offers the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) to help eligible homeowners with heating fuel costs and equipment maintenance. Additionally, during the winter months, New York provides protection from utility disconnection, ensuring residents are safe from the threat of hypothermia.
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If you receive a Termination Notice, you can pay the overdue bill or make a payment arrangement to keep your utilities from being shut off
If you've received a Termination Notice, there are a few ways to avoid a utility shutoff. Firstly, you can pay the overdue bill in full. This is the simplest way to ensure your utilities remain connected.
However, if you are unable to pay the bill in full, there are other options. You can make a payment arrangement with your utility company to cover the amount owed. This might involve setting up a payment plan to pay the bill in instalments over time. You can also contact the Department of Social Services (DSS) for help. If you already have an open DSS case that provides financial assistance or rent payments, you can ask your DSS worker to stop the shutoff and guarantee future utility payments. This option will result in lower biweekly public assistance payments.
Additionally, New York State offers protection from utility disconnection during the winter months, from November 1 to April 15. During this time, utility disconnection is prohibited if a household member is blind, disabled, or 62 years or older, and other household members are either under 18 or over 62. There is also a 30-day delay for certified medical conditions, which can be renewed for chronic conditions.
If you are a homeowner, you may be eligible for New York's Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit, which can provide financial assistance of up to $4,000 for repairs or $8,000 for replacements of essential heating equipment.
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Frequently asked questions
An average residential electric customer using 600 kWh of electricity per month is expected to pay about $58 per month for supply this winter, down 2% from the same period a year ago.
Here are some ways to avoid an electric shutoff in New York during winter:
- If you are facing a health emergency, your doctor or the local Board of Health must notify your utility company via a "doctor's certificate" that states your condition will worsen if your utilities are shut off.
- If you are having trouble paying your utility bills, you can call your utility company to make a payment plan.
- If you live in an apartment building and your landlord fails to pay the utility bill, your utility must notify you of the landlord's non-payment at least 18 days before disconnection.
- If you are a homeowner, you can apply for New York's Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit to receive funds for repairing or replacing your furnace, boiler, and other direct heating equipment.
Yes, New York State offers protection from utility disconnection from November 1 to April 15. Additionally, utility companies must make special attempts to contact and work out payment agreements with vulnerable customers, including those who are 62 years or older, blind, or disabled.
New York offers the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) to help eligible residents pay their heating bills and maintain heating equipment. There are also Winter Assistance Fairs, which are free events where residents can learn about energy affordability, financial assistance, and energy efficiency.
