Winter Energy Bills Soar: What You Need to Know and How to Get Help

Hey, neighbors! If your latest NYSEG bill gave you a bit of sticker shock, you’re not alone. On February 25, 2025, New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) released a statement explaining why our energy bills are climbing this winter—and what we can do about it. Here’s the scoop for our town.

Why Are Bills So High?

It’s a double whammy: skyrocketing supply costs and increased usage. NYSEG delivers our electricity, but they don’t set the supply prices—those come from energy generating companies. This winter, those supply prices have spiked, and since NYSEG passes those costs directly to us (without profiting), our bills reflect it. On top of that, the frigid temperatures mean our heating systems are working overtime to keep us warm, driving up usage. The delivery rates (the part NYSEG and RG&E control) haven’t gone up, but the combo of higher supply costs and more energy use is hitting us hard.

Assistance Programs to the Rescue

The good news? There’s help available. Christine Alexander, VP of Customer Service at NYSEG and RG&E, urges us not to wait if we’re struggling with unpaid bills. Here are some options:

• Energy Assistance Program: If you qualify, you could get a monthly credit on your bill. Check it out at nyseg.com/HelpWithBill (call 888.315.1755) or rge.com/HelpWithBill (call 877.266.3492).
• Budget Billing: Spread those hefty winter bills across the year with 12 equal payments—sign up through the same links or numbers above.
• HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program): A federal program for income-eligible households that helps with energy costs, repairs, and weatherization. Visit otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/ to apply for regular or emergency benefits.

Avoiding Disconnection

If you’re behind on payments, NYSEG and RG&E won’t cut you off without warning. They’re required to send multiple notices—bills, reminders, calls, even an in-person visit—before any shut-off happens. They also offer deferred payment plans for eligible customers, so reach out ASAP if you’re worried.

Final Thoughts

Winter’s tough enough without bill stress, so take advantage of these programs if you need them. NYSEG serves about 894,000 electric and 266,000 gas customers across upstate New York, while RG&E covers 378,500 electric and 313,000 gas customers around Rochester—together, they’re part of Avangrid, a big player in U.S. energy. They’re here to help us through this chilly season, so don’t hesitate to contact them.

Stay warm, everyone, and let’s look out for each other!

-Tim

UPDATE – March 6, 2025

With recent concerns raised by our customers on their monthly NYSEG bills, the company will be holding a customer service pop up event on March 19^th. This event allows customers to get face-to-face, one-on-one help with any billing concerns or with assistance they may require in paying their bill. There will not be a formal presentation but customers are encouraged to show up during the available time slot (see below) to meet with a customer service representative. They will be helped on a first-come, first-served basis.

Details of the upcoming event are:

When- March 19^th, 5pm-7pm

Where- Beekmantown Town Hall located at 571 Spellman Rd, West Chazy, NY 12992