AskPSC - Winter 2012-13

Winter 2012-13

Winter Preparedness

Whether you own your own home or rent an apartment, there are steps you can take to control your energy use and manage your energy bills. This page provides information on controlling your heating costs - including simple no-cost or low-cost measures to cut your energy use. Downloadable copies of winter preparedness materials are available at the end of the page.

Control Your Heating Costs

Conserve Energy

Your heating costs are made up of two factors: the cost of the heating fuel and the amount of heating fuel you use. No matter where prices go or what the heating season is like, you can make the most of your energy dollars by taking basic steps to reduce your usage. The less fuel you use to heat your home, the more you will save.

This winter, you can substantially reduce your home heating costs by:

maintaining your heating system

insulating your home

sealing air leaks around windows, doors and foundations

adjusting your thermostat settings, and

following other simple, affordable steps outlined in this checklist.

You can also perform an energy audit of your home to discover and correct air leaks. Visit our energy efficiency website for more energy-saving tips for your home or business.

Consider Bill Payment Options, Financial Assistance and Energy Efficiency Programs

You or someone you know may need financial help to get through this heating season. Various bill payment options and financial assistance programs are available.

Payment options from your utility include:

Budget Plans - which provide equal monthly payments
Deferred Payment Agreements - which may be available if you have fallen behind on your bill and cannot pay in full.

Financial Assistance Programs are also available to help consumers with their heating costs.

Government-sponsored programs - Contact your county's Department of Social Services or Office for Aging to learn about assistance programs such as the Home Energy Assistance Program, a federally funded program that provides heating grants to help low-income consumers pay for their energy costs.

Community-based service programs - Service organizations like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, and local Community Action Agencies provide financial aid, counseling services and assistance with utility emergencies.

Utility-sponsored programs - Payment assistance programs are available through each of the major natural gas and electric utilities. In addition, eligible low-income customers can receive a discount on their monthly electric and/or gas bills, as well as other benefits, depending on the characteristics of the particular utility's program. For more information, contact your utility directly.

Energy efficiency programs designed to make improvements to your home or business are also available from several government agencies and New York's major energy utilities. Visit our energy efficiency website for more information on these programs and the tax credits that are available for energy efficiency improvement measures.

Publications

	Take the Chill Out of Your Winter Energy Bills brochure Control heating costs with simple, affordable energy saving tips, energy efficiency programs, financial assistance programs and bill payment options.
	Help Your Home Heat Better poster Hang this poster to help people learn simple ways to reduce energy waste during the winter months.
	Household Electricity Use and Energy Saving Tips booklet Save energy using this list of common household electric devices and appliances and their estimated operating costs based on level of usage. Also includes tips on reducing waste.
	Vampire Voltage: Energy Waste is Draining brochure Reduce waste by learning about Vampire Voltage and how to limit its drain on your utility bill.
	Controlling Your Lighting Costs tip strip Discover the benefits of using energy efficient light bulbs for your lighting needs.
	Utility Service Interruptions brochure Follow this PSC guide to learn what you should do if your utility service is interrupted.
	Your Rights & Protections brochure Learn about the Home Energy Fair Practices Act (HEFPA) which provides comprehensive consumer protections to residential customers regarding electric and natural gas utility service.
	On-Bill Financing tip strip Make energy saving upgrades to your home affordable with this On-Bill Financing tip strip.