High Winter Energy Bills Drive Surge in Utility Shutoffs Across Upstate New York

Albany, NY — Upstate New York households are feeling the financial toll of high winter energy bills, as utility companies disconnect service to tens of thousands of customers for nonpayment.

Each year, utilities scale back disconnections during the coldest months. With Spring underway, service terminations have resumed sharply, hitting families who are still struggling to recover from months of elevated heating costs, especially older persons living on fixed incomes.

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“Utilities are not a luxury; they are a necessity – and one that is increasingly out of reach for older New Yorkers. Thousands of households are being shut off from essential energy service, while still reeling from the high cost of getting through this past winter,” said Beth Finkel, State Director for AARP New York. “This surge in shutoffs is unacceptable and exposes a system that is failing New Yorkers. They need immediate relief and a rate-setting process that puts consumers first.”

In April alone, major upstate utilities, including National Grid, NYSEG, Rochester Gas & Electric, Central Hudson and National Fuel collectively terminated service to more than 20,000 households  up from only 4,200 terminations in March, a spike of over 350%. The New York State spike for all utilities was an over 70% increase in household terminations from March to April.

With budget negotiations ongoing in Albany, AARP New York urges state leaders to take immediate action. That includes advancing targeted bill relief and reforms to the state’s utility rate-setting system to ensure it better reflects the needs of consumers.

• Establish an independent utility consumer advocate office and an intervenor funding program to level the playing field for all residential ratepayers in the NYS Public Service Commission’s broken energy rate making process that has failed New Yorkers.
• Create an Energy Rebate Program that would provide immediate relief to those currently struggling to pay their utility bills.
• Invest in programs that reduce energy bills such as HEAP and EmPower+ to expand access and drive down costs for low- and moderate-income households.
• Require utilities to return excess earnings to ratepayers through bill credits when they exceed their authorized return on equity.
• Strengthen utility termination protections for vulnerable households, including tenants of multiple dwellings and individuals with medical needs