NYSEG assistance programs - New York State Electric and Gas.
The energy provider will offer customers a number of options. Find everything from government grants to pay electric or utility bills to payments plans from NYSEG or free energy conservation measures. There is assistance for people if they are struggling with paying their bills or if they are facing a disconnection. Assistance programs are offered directly by New York Electric and Gas, the federal and state government, and non-profit agencies. Find how to apply below.
Programs for NYSEG customers with medical conditions
Life Support Customers or people who are relying on medical or life-sustaining equipment and who live in New York should call the energy provider. They will keep you informed of power outages and upcoming utility work.
One Less Worry is the name of a program that will suspend your bill for up to 30 days if someone in your household is in the hospital or faced with an extreme medical hardship. As the company understands in these cases people may struggle with paying their bills.
Government assistance for New York Electric and Gas customers
The primary federal and New York state resource is known as Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and there is both an emergency component as well as regular service.
Emergency HEAP is offered to customers if someone is about to run out of heating fuel or faced with imminent disconnection. The application process can be accelerated, and monies paid out quicker for the emergency program. Applications begin in January of each year, and almost all of the funding is issued to NYSEG customers during the winter months.
Regular bill paying support is offered to low income NYSEG customers from the Home Energy Assistance Program. It is a grant program that can pay for heating and cooling bills, weatherization, and repairs to equipment. You can only apply, and receive help, at most once per year. Call your local social services office or community action agency to apply.
Funding for both of these programs is very limited. Apply early in the season. If you are a customer of New York Electric and Gas and are 60 years of age or older or receive any type of Social Security benefit or government assistance, feel free to also call your local Office for the Aging for an application or information.
Programs from non profits and NYSEG
Project SHARE is a resource offered and paid for by customers, employees, retirees, and matching grants from NYSEG. The program may be able to help eligible lower income and senior customers pay for energy emergencies such as fuel or cooling bills, water heater replacements, repairs to heating equipment, and home weatherization services.
In order to receive cash grants from Project SHARE and other forms of financial assistance, a member of the household must be disabled or 60 years of age or older. Project SHARE is offered as a last resort, so applicants must also have used up all other utility and government assistance programs such as local or county emergency aid, HEAP, food stamps, and Medicaid. Grants of up to $200 are offered to qualified individuals for their utility expenses. Funding is limited and it can be used up early in certain years.
The New York Electric and Gas Energy Assistance Program offers both arrears forgiveness and credits on bills. A payment plan will normally need to be adhered too. People can gain control of their expenses from a program known EAP.
Credits on your monthly bill are automatically available to any lower income or struggling customer who receives a government HEAP benefit. The arrears forgiveness program, also known as EAP Limited Benefit, is also offered to a small number of people.
Some of the benefits of arrears forgiveness from NYSEG include the following. Any past due amounts on your bills or account balance is placed on hold at the time of enrollment. Another key benefit is that every time you pay your regular NYSEG utility bill in full and on time you will receive a credit on your original balance. So every time your unpaid balance will be wiped out little by little.
Some conditions set by New York Electric and Gas Energy include if a customer misses three consecutive payments they will be permanently removed from the program. You also will not be able to participate in the future. Also, budget billing is required to participate.
In order to receive these credits, families will need to apply for HEAP each and every year. Monthly bill credits will continue on your account only as long as your other fuel vendor or NYSEG receives notice of a HEAP grant from you.
New York State Electricity and Gas Power Partner Program may be the last option for customers. This resource provides energy services including water heater replacement, weatherization, health and safety measures, and also refrigerator replacement.
Phone number to apply
To look into any of these NYSEG assistance programs, or to explore other solutions, call 800.572.1111 or 1.888.315.1755.
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