Written & Reviewed by
New York utility help
Last updated: October 17, 2026
Older New Yorkers can have several different routes for help with electric, gas, heating fuel, water, phone, or internet costs. The right route depends on whether the problem is a monthly bill, a shutoff notice, a heating emergency, or a home that is expensive to heat and cool.
Bottom Line
If the bill is simply too high each month, start with your utility’s affordability discount. If service may be shut off, call the utility first and use New York’s Home Energy Fair Practices Act protections right away. If you need seasonal heating help, check the current Home Energy Assistance Program status before applying because HEAP opens and closes by component and season.
As of 3 October 2026, New York’s public HEAP page still shows 2025–26 Regular HEAP as closed. Do not reuse last season’s dates, limits, or amounts. Check the official HEAP page or call OTDA at 1-800-342-3009.
Urgent Help
If electric or gas service is about to be shut off: call the utility number on your bill first. Say that you have a final termination notice and ask for an affordable deferred payment agreement, any utility affordability discount, and any medical, elderly, disability, or cold-weather protection that fits your household.
If you cannot resolve a threatened electric or gas shutoff with the utility, call the New York State Department of Public Service Emergency HOTLINE at 1-800-342-3355, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on business days. The Department’s general utility HELPLINE is 1-800-342-3377, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on business days. See the state’s utility rights guide.
If you are out of heating fuel, your utilities are already off, or you have a 72-hour disconnect notice, ask your local Department of Social Services about emergency assistance. New York says emergency assistance can include utility arrears or heating fuel, and you do not have to qualify for ongoing Temporary Assistance to be screened for emergency help. See Emergency Assistance rules.
For a broader crisis plan, see our New York emergency guide.
Start Here
- Call the company that sends the bill. Ask for its Energy Affordability Program or other low-income discount, a payment agreement, and all hardship options on the account.
- Check the correct state program. HEAP is seasonal. Utility affordability discounts can be available year-round. Weatherization and EmPower+ are for longer-term energy savings, not an immediate shutoff.
- Use New York’s protection rules. If there is a shutoff notice, medical risk, life-support equipment, or a household that qualifies for elderly, blind, or disabled protections, tell the utility before the shutoff date.
If you want a national overview of the different kinds of utility help, use our utility bill help guide.
Quick Reference
| Problem | Best first route | What to know now |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly electric or gas bill is too high | Utility EAP or EEAP | Monthly discounts are offered through major utilities. Expanded eligibility began in 2026. |
| Need seasonal heating help | HEAP | The public state page still shows 2025–26 Regular HEAP closed. Confirm the 2026–27 opening before relying on old dates. |
| Final shutoff notice | Utility + HEFPA | Ask for a deferred payment agreement and any special protection. Escalate unresolved electric or gas shutoff cases to DPS. |
| Home is costly to heat or cool | WAP or EmPower+ | These programs focus on approved efficiency work and can take longer than bill-crisis help. |
| Water or sewer bill | Provider or local DSS | The old LIHWAP water program is permanently closed. Municipal water problems go to the local municipality, not the PSC. |
| Phone or internet cost | Lifeline | Eligible households can receive a monthly federal service discount. |
Monthly Electric and Gas Discounts
The Public Service Commission says that, beginning in January 2026, enhanced affordability programs expanded bill discounts to residential customers below the applicable state or area median income used by the utility. Traditional EAP also serves many households receiving HEAP or other qualifying benefits. Rules vary by utility. Read the current EAP fact sheet.
New York’s utility assistance directory routes customers to the main utility affordability programs, including PSEG Long Island’s Household Assistance Program. If a municipal electric system sends your bill, contact that local utility directly because its discount and payment options can differ.
There is also a temporary 2026 protection for people already connected to these affordability programs. The Public Service Commission directed major electric and gas utilities, and owners of submetered buildings, to pause EAP disenrollments through 30 November 2026 and re-enroll certain customers who had been removed since 1 October 2025. If you believe you were dropped from a discount during that period, ask your utility to review your account. See the current PSC order summary.
HEAP: Check the Current Season
New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, is seasonal. Separate components can cover regular heating help, emergencies, heating equipment, or cooling when those components are open.
The main caution for fall 2026 is timing. The state page still says 2025–26 Regular HEAP closed on 10 April 2026. New 2026–27 materials are posted, but the public service page does not yet show a verified new-season opening date, benefit table, or income chart. Check current HEAP status before applying.
If a heating emergency occurs while the HEAP component you need is closed, call the local Department of Social Services and ask to be screened for emergency assistance. The OTDA hotline is 1-800-342-3009.
The 2026 Cooling Assistance Benefit closed on 5 June 2026. Age 60 or older was one vulnerable-member route for that closed component, but do not assume the same rule for a future season. See the cooling benefit page.
If you are unsure which online system applies in your county or in New York City, our New York benefits portals guide explains the main state and city entry points.
Tribal energy assistance
The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe operates its own LIHEAP intake for residents of the U.S. portion of the Reservation. The Tribe said in August 2026 that its 2026–27 LIHEAP plan was being processed. Call 518-358-2272 and check the tribal heating programs page for current application status. Other Tribal households can use the federal LIHEAP office finder and should confirm whether the tribal or local office serves their household.
New York Shutoff Protections
New York’s Home Energy Fair Practices Act, or HEFPA, gives residential gas, electric, and steam customers important shutoff and payment rights.
Under the current DPS guide, a utility generally must send a written final termination notice and wait at least 15 days. Residential shutoffs are generally limited to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with added holiday restrictions. Review the state’s full HEFPA guide.
| Situation | Protection | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Medical emergency | Service must remain on for 30 days after proper medical certification; renewal may be possible. | Tell the utility immediately and have the doctor or local Board of Health provide the required certification. |
| Life-support equipment | Medical certification can remain effective until ended by DPS, with periodic proof of inability to pay. | Ask the utility to code the account for life-support protection. |
| Age 62+, blind, or disabled | If household conditions are met, the utility must make special contact efforts before shutoff and can refer the case to Social Services. | Notify the utility now so the account is coded before a crisis. |
| Cold weather | From 1 November through 15 April, utilities must make special efforts before ending heat-related service where health or safety may be harmed. | Tell the utility who lives in the home and any health or safety risk from loss of heat. |
| Extreme heat | Covered electric and water utilities cannot terminate residential service for nonpayment when qualifying extreme-heat conditions apply. | Ask the utility whether the PSC extreme-heat rule is active in your service area. |
The elderly protection is not simply an automatic ban on shutoff for every customer over 62. The household composition and notice rules matter. Notify the utility and ask it to confirm how your account is coded.
Medical and elderly protections
For a medical emergency, phone notice can begin the process, but written certification must follow within five business days. Tell the utility in advance if the account should be coded for medical, life-support, elderly, blind, or disabled protections.
Affordable payment agreements
If past-due bills are the problem, ask for a deferred payment agreement based on what you can afford. Current DPS forms say demonstrated financial need can support no down payment and installments as low as $10 per month. This is not automatic; the utility can review your finances. See the HEFPA payment forms.
Extreme heat protection
The Public Service Commission also has year-round extreme-heat protections for residential customers of the state’s covered investor-owned electric and water utilities. An extreme heat event is tied to a heat index forecast or actual reading of at least 90°F. Utilities covered by the rule cannot terminate electric or water service for nonpayment while the qualifying event is forecast or occurring. Designated heat-island areas can receive added days of protection after an actual 90°F event. See the extreme heat rules.
Important
Call the utility first. If a regulated electric or gas shutoff cannot be resolved, use the DPS Emergency HOTLINE. For a billing or service dispute that is not an immediate shutoff, use the DPS general HELPLINE or the state’s complaint process. Municipal water authorities are generally handled by the municipality rather than the PSC.
Lower Future Bills: WAP and EmPower+
If the home itself drives high bills, energy-efficiency work can reduce future costs. It is separate from emergency arrears help.
| Program | Best for | Where to start | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weatherization Assistance Program | Income-eligible households needing approved energy-saving work | Local HCR weatherization provider | Work depends on an energy assessment, program rules, provider capacity, and the property. |
| NYSERDA EmPower+ | Eligible owners or renters in 1–4 family homes | NYSERDA or NY Energy Advisor | Income rules and incentive levels vary. The program is not an emergency arrears fund. |
Weatherization Assistance Program
New York State Homes and Community Renewal runs Weatherization through local providers. Approved work can include air sealing, insulation, and other measures identified by an energy audit. Use the weatherization provider list for your county.
Weatherization providers can have waitlists and must follow program rules about eligible work. It is not a general remodeling fund. Our weatherization guide explains what the program normally can and cannot do.
NYSERDA EmPower+
EmPower+ is another major New York route for income-eligible households. NYSERDA says homeowners and renters may qualify if household income is below the applicable 80% state or area median income limit, or through participation in a utility payment-assistance program. Because the limit changes by county and household size, use the current 2026 eligibility tool rather than copying a single statewide dollar amount.
Start at the EmPower+ program page or use NY Energy Advisor for a broader program match.
If the home needs structural or safety repairs beyond energy work, see our New York repair guide.
Water, Phone, and Internet Help
Water and sewer bills
New York’s former Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, or LIHWAP, is no longer an application route. OTDA states that Congress did not reauthorize the program and that it is permanently closed. No additional LIHWAP benefits will be authorized. This is important because older web pages may still describe LIHWAP benefit amounts or forms that should no longer be used. See the official closure notice.
If your water provider is municipal, contact the city, town, village, or local water authority directly about payment arrangements, shutoff rules, hardship programs, and appeals. For an emergency shutoff or basic-needs crisis, also ask the local Department of Social Services whether emergency assistance can help with your situation.
Phone and internet
The federal Lifeline program can reduce phone or internet costs for eligible households. In 2026, USAC lists support of up to $9.25 per month for qualifying broadband service and $5.25 per month for qualifying voice-only service. A household may qualify through income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or through certain public benefits, and only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. Check Lifeline eligibility before applying.
One-Time 2026 POWER Energy Rebate
New York also created a one-time 2026 POWER energy rebate check tied to the 2024 resident income-tax return. It is not HEAP or a utility-company credit.
Eligible taxpayers do not apply. Fall 2026 checks are $100 for qualifying single, head-of-household, or married-separately filers with 2024 New York adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less; $200 for qualifying joint or surviving-spouse filers at $150,000 or less; and $150 for those joint/surviving-spouse filers above $150,000 through $300,000. A timely 2024 resident return and other conditions apply. See the POWER check rules.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Your latest electric, gas, water, fuel, phone, or internet bill.
- Any final termination, shutoff, or disconnection notice.
- Photo identification and proof of address.
- Recent household income records, including Social Security, pension, wages, or other income.
- Account number and the name exactly as it appears on the utility bill.
- A doctor’s or Board of Health certification if you are asking for a medical-emergency protection.
You do not need every document before making the first emergency call. If service is at risk, call first and ask what proof must follow.
Reality Checks
Programs Do Different Jobs
- HEAP is seasonal. A closed HEAP component does not mean every utility-help route is closed.
- EAP is a bill discount. It may lower future monthly charges but may not erase old arrears.
- A payment agreement is not a grant. You still owe the agreed balance and current charges.
- Weatherization is slower. It can reduce energy use, but it is not the main answer for a shutoff happening this week.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until the shutoff day to call.
- Assuming HEAP is open because last year’s application date appears in a search result.
- Assuming a person over 62 automatically has a total winter shutoff ban.
- Failing to tell the utility about medical equipment or a medical emergency.
- Accepting a payment plan you know you cannot afford without asking for a financial review.
- Using old LIHWAP water-assistance forms even though the program is permanently closed.
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
If the utility will not resolve a regulated-service problem: ask for the company’s decision or account notes, then use the Department of Public Service complaint process. If electric or gas service is about to be disconnected, use the emergency hotline rather than waiting on a routine complaint.
If HEAP is closed: ask the local Department of Social Services about emergency assistance, then call the utility about EAP, a payment agreement, and any available hardship fund.
If a home-efficiency program has a waitlist: ask whether another local weatherization provider, NYSERDA program, or home-repair program can address the same problem.
The Public Service Commission keeps a current utility grant list for several company and nonprofit hardship programs. Availability can change, so call before relying on a listed amount.
For local nonprofit backup options, use our New York charities guide. For a broader state benefit review, see our New York senior guide.
Local Help for Older New Yorkers
If you do not know which office should handle the problem, call NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871 and give the older adult’s ZIP code and main need. The state resource guide confirms the statewide number.
You can also use our New York aging offices guide to find local aging help. Aging offices do not approve every utility benefit, but they can help older adults sort out local referrals and other benefits that may free up money for energy costs.
Phone Scripts
Utility discount and arrears
“I am an older residential customer and my bill is hard to afford. Please check my account for EAP or EEAP, a deferred payment agreement, budget billing, and any hardship or arrears program. What documents do you need from me?”
Shutoff and special protection
“I have a final termination notice for [date]. I am age [age], and my household includes [ages/disability information]. Please tell me which HEFPA protections apply and what I must provide today to prevent disconnection.”
Medical emergency
“Loss of utility service could worsen a medical condition in this home. I need the medical-emergency certification process. What must my doctor or local Board of Health send, and where should it be sent?”
Local emergency assistance
“My utility is shut off or scheduled for shutoff, and HEAP may not be open for the component I need. Please screen me for emergency assistance and tell me what proof I should provide today.”
Resumen en Español
Si una persona mayor en Nueva York tiene una factura de electricidad o gas que no puede pagar, primero debe llamar a la compañía de servicios y pedir el programa EAP o EEAP, un plan de pago y cualquier protección por edad, discapacidad o problema médico.
Si hay una amenaza de corte de electricidad o gas y la compañía no resuelve el problema, puede llamar a la línea de emergencia del Departamento de Servicio Público al 1-800-342-3355 en días laborables. Para otras quejas de servicios públicos, llame al 1-800-342-3377.
HEAP es estacional. Al 3 de octubre de 2026, la página estatal todavía muestra cerrado el beneficio regular 2025–26. Confirme 2026–27 antes de usar fechas o límites antiguos. Para una emergencia, llame a servicios sociales o a OTDA al 1-800-342-3009.
El antiguo programa LIHWAP para agua está cerrado permanentemente. Para ahorrar energía a largo plazo, pregunte por Weatherization o EmPower+. Si necesita ayuda para encontrar una oficina local para personas mayores, llame a NY Connects al 1-800-342-9871.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York HEAP open now?
As of 3 October 2026, New York’s public HEAP service page still states that the 2025–26 Regular HEAP benefit closed on 10 April 2026. New 2026–27 materials are being posted, but use the current state HEAP page or call 1-800-342-3009 to confirm the opening date and current rules before applying.
Can New York stop a senior’s utility shutoff?
Sometimes. New York’s HEFPA rules require notice and give special protections for medical emergencies, qualifying elderly, blind, or disabled households, cold-weather situations, payment agreements, and certain disputes. A person over 62 does not have an automatic permanent shutoff ban. Call the utility first and ask which rule applies to the household.
What number handles an electric or gas shutoff?
Call the utility first. If an electric or gas shutoff or refusal to restore service cannot be resolved, the New York State Department of Public Service Emergency HOTLINE is 1-800-342-3355 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on business days.
Does New York still have LIHWAP for water bills?
No. New York OTDA states that LIHWAP was not reauthorized by Congress and is permanently closed. Contact the water provider or municipality about payment options, and ask the local Department of Social Services about emergency assistance if loss of water creates an urgent need.
Can seniors get a monthly utility discount?
Possibly. Major New York electric and gas utilities offer Energy Affordability Programs or similar assistance. Eligibility and discount levels depend on the utility and household circumstances. Ask the company that sends the bill to check EAP, EEAP, or its equivalent program.
What if the home itself causes high bills?
Check the Weatherization Assistance Program and NYSERDA EmPower+. They can help eligible households with approved energy-saving improvements. These programs are usually slower than emergency bill assistance, so use a separate shutoff or arrears route if service is in immediate danger.
About This Guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.
Last updated: October 17, 2026 · Next review: January 15, 2027
About the Authors