Your ConEd bill is about to spike. New York’s first real heat week of 2026 lands right after Memorial Day, and ConEd’s summer rate structure — combined with the 3.5% electric rate increase that took effect this year — means a typical NYC apartment is paying roughly $7 more per month on electricity in 2026 than in 2025. Most renters won’t do anything about it until the August bill arrives and the damage is done. This guide is the opposite of that. Here’s a practical, source-verified playbook for cutting your summer electric bill before the heat hits — every program is real, every dollar amount is confirmed against ConEd’s own pages.
Step One: Claim the $85 Smart Thermostat Rebate
If you have central air and a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat — or you’re willing to spend roughly $130 on one — ConEd will send you an $85 check. That’s the Smart Thermostat Program, and the rebate arrives within 6 to 8 weeks of enrollment. Eligible models include Honeywell Total Connect Comfort, Honeywell Home (T5, T6 series), Emerson Sensi (ST25, ST55, ST75, ST76), and the Amazon Smart Thermostat. The catch: you authorize ConEd to make small, gradual temperature adjustments to your system during peak demand events (11 AM to 11 PM on weekdays, May through September). You can opt out of any individual event by clicking a link in the notification email. Starting in year three, you can also earn a $25 annual retention incentive for participating in at least 50% of event hours. Limit is 12 rebates per household.
Worth noting: ConEd’s site currently shows a banner that program enrollment is taking longer than usual. Enroll now, not in July, or you’ll miss the active summer window.
Step Two: Apply for HEAP Cooling Assistance Before the Funds Run Out
The Home Energy Assistance Program’s Cooling Benefit pays up to $800 toward a window or portable AC unit, installation, or a fan — or up to $1,000 toward replacing an existing wall sleeve unit. The 2026 application window opened April 15 and runs through August 31, 2026, or until funding runs out. Per state notices, 2026 federal LIHEAP funding is tighter than 2025, and in recent years the cooling benefit has exhausted well before the deadline. To qualify, your household needs to meet the income guidelines (or already receive SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Code A SSI), at least one member must be age 55+, under age 6, or have a documented medical condition worsened by heat (asthma, COPD, heart disease, MS), and you can’t already have a working AC under five years old.
NYC residents apply through ACCESS HRA online, by phone at 718-557-1399, or in person at a local Benefits Access Center. Bring proof of income, ID, your most recent ConEd bill, and documentation of the medical or vulnerability requirement.
Step Three: Stack the Energy Affordability Discount on Top
ConEd’s Energy Affordability Program (EAP) and the newer Enhanced EAP (EEAP) are not the same as HEAP — they’re a permanent monthly bill discount, applied directly to your account, that runs every month of the year. The discount can exceed $135 per month for low-income NYC households on gas heat, per ConEd’s program data confirmed by Gothamist reporting. The traditional EAP requires that you already receive HEAP, SNAP, Medicaid, or similar benefits. The Enhanced EAP, which expanded January 13, 2026, opens the door for households earning up to 100% of area median income — that’s $113,400 for a single person or $162,000 for a family of four in NYC. You can apply at conEd.NYEEAP.com, and a third-party vendor called Promise processes the application.
This is the single highest-leverage program on this list, and uptake is low — Gothamist reported that few eligible New Yorkers are actually applying. If you cross either income threshold, this should be your first call this week.
Step Four: The Behavior Changes That Actually Move the Needle
ConEd’s own guidance on lowering summer bills lands on three high-impact behaviors. First, set your thermostat to 78°F when you’re home and use a ceiling fan for the perceived cooling — each degree below 78 adds roughly 3-5% to your cooling cost. Second, shift heavy electric loads (dishwasher, laundry, dishwasher dryer cycles) to before 11 AM or after 11 PM, the off-peak window. Third, unplug high-draw devices when you’re not using them — game consoles, desktop computers, and older cable boxes can pull 15-30 watts continuously, which compounds across a long billing cycle.
The smaller habits also add up: close blinds on south- and west-facing windows during peak sun, use LED bulbs everywhere (ConEd estimates an 80% reduction versus incandescent), and clean your AC filter monthly during summer. A dirty filter forces your unit to work 5-15% harder for the same cooling, according to ConEd’s tips-to-lower-your-bill page.
Step Five: Set Up Budget Billing Before the August Spike
This is the boring one nobody recommends, and it’s the one that prevents the worst-case scenario. ConEd’s Budget Billing program spreads your annual usage evenly across all 12 months, so a $400 August bill doesn’t land on you when rent is already due. There’s no fee, no income requirement, and you can sign up through your ConEd online account in about three minutes. It doesn’t reduce your total cost — but it eliminates the seasonal cash-flow shock that pushes a lot of New Yorkers onto credit cards every July and August.
Action Steps
- This week: Apply for the EEAP at conEd.NYEEAP.com if you’re under 100% AMI ($113,400 single / $162,000 family of four). This is the largest single-month discount on the list.
- Before June 15: Apply for HEAP Cooling Assistance via ACCESS HRA or 718-557-1399 — funding is exhausted earlier each year.
- Enroll your smart thermostat at the ConEd $85 Rebate page. Note the current enrollment delay — start now.
- Switch to Budget Billing in your ConEd account dashboard before the July bill drops.
- Set the thermostat to 78°F when home, run a fan, and shift laundry to off-peak hours.
None of these programs replace each other. EEAP is a monthly discount. HEAP Cooling is a one-time AC unit benefit. The Smart Thermostat rebate is a separate $85. You can — and should — stack them. The average NYC renter who applies to all three this week saves $200 to $1,500 over the summer, depending on income tier and AC setup. The forms take less than an hour combined. The August bill arrives whether you do it or not.
