If your ConEd bill has felt heavier this year, you’re not imagining it. In January 2026, the New York State Public Service Commission approved a rate increase of approximately 9% for electric customers over three years, according to THE CITY. For the average New York City household, that works out to roughly $4 more per month on electric service alone — modest on paper, but stacked on top of rent, transit, and groceries, it adds up.
The good news: there are real, enrollable programs that can more than offset that increase. Here’s your complete toolkit for lowering an NYC electric bill in 2026.
Program #1: The EEAP — Up to $135 Off Your Monthly Bill
This is the biggest bill-reduction program most New Yorkers have never enrolled in. Con Edison’s Enhanced Energy Affordability Program (EEAP), launched January 13, 2026, offers monthly discounts of up to $135 on combined electric and gas bills for households below 60% of the area median income.
According to Con Edison’s program materials, approximate 2026 income thresholds include:
- Single person: income roughly under $68,050/year
- Family of four: income roughly under $97,200/year
Check current thresholds at coned.nyeeap.com since these figures are updated based on area median income adjustments. If you’re close to the line, apply anyway — the application is free and the review is quick.
How to apply:
- Online at coned.nyeeap.com or nyeeap.com (fastest — about 10 minutes)
- By phone: 877-400-2501
- By email: info@nyeeap.com
You’ll need proof of income for everyone in the household age 18 or older: pay stubs, 1099s, Social Security award letters, or last year’s tax return. Discounts are applied retroactively to your application date, so the sooner you apply, the sooner the savings start.
Program #2: The Traditional EAP — If You Already Receive Benefits, You May Already Qualify
The traditional Energy Affordability Program (EAP) is tied to government benefit enrollment rather than income documentation. If your household receives any of the following, you likely qualify for automatic bill discounts:
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Medicaid
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Lifeline Telephone Service
- Veterans Disability or Survivors Pension
Enrollment is sometimes automatic when your utility account is cross-referenced with benefits databases, but don’t assume it’s happened. Verify your enrollment status at coned.com/en/accounts-billing/payment-plans-assistance/energy-affordability-program or by calling ConEd at 800-752-6633.
Program #3: HEAP Cooling Assistance — Before Summer Funding Runs Out
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Assistance benefit is now open for summer 2026. HEAP can help income-qualified NYC households with the cost of an air conditioner or a fan — and depending on funding levels, may also cover installation. Eligibility is based on household size and gross monthly income.
Apply through NYC HRA at nyc.gov/hra or call 212-331-4640. HEAP programs run on a first-come, first-served basis and have historically closed before the summer ends — apply early.
Cut Your Internet Bill Too: The NY Affordable Broadband Act
Your utility costs don’t stop at electricity. For many NYC households, internet is a second monthly squeeze — and the federal Affordable Connectivity Program that helped over 1.7 million New York households is no longer active as of mid-2024.
The replacement in New York State is the Affordable Broadband Act, which requires ISPs serving more than 20,000 customers to offer reduced-cost plans to qualifying households. If you’re enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or another qualifying program, you may be eligible for plans like:
- Spectrum Internet Assist: $25/month
- Optimum Advantage: $15/month
- Xfinity Internet Essentials: $14.95/month
Check current offers and eligibility at access.nyc.gov/programs/affordable-broadband-act/ or call 311 and ask about broadband assistance.
5 Habits That Actually Move the Needle on Your ConEd Bill
No enrollment required — these work immediately:
- Shift heavy appliances to off-peak hours. ConEd offers Time-of-Use rate options where evenings and weekends cost less. Running your dishwasher or laundry at 9 PM instead of 7 PM can reduce per-load costs. Check your rate structure at coned.com.
- Set your AC two degrees higher. Each degree of additional cooling adds roughly 3–5% to your summer cooling costs. Keeping it at 76°F instead of 74°F is invisible comfort-wise to most people, but adds up across a full NYC summer.
- Unplug standby devices. “Vampire draw” — the power consumed by chargers, TVs on standby, and idle appliances — accounts for roughly 10% of the average home electricity bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A simple smart power strip pays for itself quickly.
- Request a free Home Energy Analysis from ConEd. At coned.com/en/save-money, you can access a personalized analysis of your usage and, in some cases, qualify for rebates on energy-efficient appliances or lighting upgrades.
- Check whether your building is overheating you. If you live in a building with steam heat and your apartment is consistently too warm in winter — requiring you to open windows or run a fan — document it. Landlords are required to maintain appropriate heat standards, and a failure to regulate it can be grounds for a rent reduction complaint with DHCR.
If You’re Behind on Your Bill: Payment Arrangements
Con Edison offers deferred payment arrangements for customers who’ve fallen behind. Call 800-752-6633 and ask to set up a payment plan. If you’re in a genuine hardship situation, ask specifically about the Low Income Customer Credit and the Late Payment Charge Waiver.
One important protection: utility service cannot be shut off for residential customers between November 1 and April 15. That cold-weather protection does not extend into summer months, however — so if you’re behind, address it before the summer billing season begins.
Action Steps: Lower Your ConEd Bill This Month
- Apply to the EEAP at coned.nyeeap.com — takes about 10 minutes; discounts are applied retroactively to your application date
- Check if your benefits auto-qualify you for the traditional EAP at coned.com
- Apply for HEAP Cooling Assistance at nyc.gov/hra or call 212-331-4640 — funding is limited, apply now
- Find affordable internet at access.nyc.gov/programs/affordable-broadband-act/
- Get a free Home Energy Analysis at coned.com/en/save-money
- If you’re behind on your bill, call ConEd at 800-752-6633 to set up a payment plan before a shutoff notice arrives
- Call 311 if you need in-person help navigating any of these programs
A 9% rate hike on an already expensive ConEd bill is frustrating — but unlike a rent increase, utility costs have real, accessible pressure valves. The EEAP alone is worth over $1,600 per year for qualifying households. If you haven’t checked whether you qualify, that’s the single best 10 minutes you can spend on your finances today.
