As temperatures drop, Con Edison is ready with programs and conservation tips to help customers lower their bills and make the most of their energy use this winter.
Con Edison offers energy efficiency programs and encourages customers to find one that works for them. Through September, these programs provided $141 million in incentives for upgrades including heat pumps, insulation, sealing air leaks, and energy efficient windows. More than $23 million benefited customers with low and moderate incomes.
Winter energy bills are typically higher than autumn bills because as the days grow shorter and colder, customers use more energy.
If customers use electric heating, the electric portion of their bill could be higher during the winter. If customers use natural gas for heating, the gas portion of their bill would be higher.
The best strategy for Con Edison's 3.7 million customers to manage their winter bills is to be mindful of their usage and follow energy saving tips.
- Get Weekly Energy Use Reports. Customers can get information on what day and time they used the most electricity by logging into their account and scrolling down to sign up.
- Set thermostats at the lowest comfortable temperature. Each degree higher increases heating costs.
- Clear the area around heating vents. Carpets, furniture, and other objects can block vents and prevent heated air from circulating in your home.
- Insulate hot-water pipes and warm-air ducts that pass through unheated areas. Clean or replace filters for furnaces and heat pumps. Have a qualified contractor clean and inspect heating systems.
- When the sun is shining, open shades on south-facing windows. Close the shades at night.
- Take showers instead of baths. Showers use half as much water as baths. Less hot water means less energy used.
- Wash clothes in cold water to avoid using energy to heat the water.
- Customers can maximize efficiency and improve comfort with proper insulation and air sealing. They'll save energy and money year-round. Old or improperly installed insulation can lead to a loss of up to 30 percent of your home's heating. Learn more.
On rare occasions, such as the coldest days of winter or during prolonged cold spells, the company may ask customers to conserve energy.
Programs That Fit Customers' Energy and Financial Needs
Payment assistance options include budget billing, which smooths a customer's costs out throughout the year and avoids seasonal spikes.
Customers who receive benefits from certain government assistance programs can qualify for the Energy Affordability Program to keep energy costs at or below 6 percent of average annual income. Through September, Con Edison provided $189 million in bill discounts to customers in the EAP. Currently, 408,000 customers are in the program.
Beginning in 2026, the New York State Public Service Commission's new enhanced energy affordability policy will extend eligibility to all residential utility customers below median income.
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), a federal program, also provides benefits to income-eligible customers to help cover heating costs. For more information on the 2025-2026 HEAP application schedule, click here.
Con Edison offers protections during cold weather and payment programs for seniors, households with children, people with disabilities and households with someone who uses life-support equipment and have registered with the company.
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies. The utility delivers electricity, natural gas and steam, and serves 3.7 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, NY. For financial, operations and customer service information, visit conEd.com.
