EDITORIAL: Don't wait to get help with winter heating bills – The Daily Gazette - The Daily Gazette

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Don’t let the slow transition to winter catch you off guard.

National Grid said Thursday that home heating prices upstate this winter would surge an average of 36%. So if last winter’s heating bill was around $500, you can expect to pay about $180 more than last year, or about $680 this winter.

If you’re behind and you haven’t caught up, or if you’re eligible for aid and you haven’t applied, don’t waste any more time.

Most people are familiar with HEAP – the Home Energy Assistance Program — which helps low-income residents, including seniors, pay the cost of heating their homes.

The once-a-year benefit is available to residents based on income, household size, the primary hearing source, location and whether there are young children, seniors or disabled people in the home.

Visit the state’s HEAP website at https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/ for eligibility and how to apply. All the detailed income standards and contact information for your county is on the website.

If you’ve gotten behind on your utility bills due to economic circumstances related to covid, you also could be eligible for assistance. Help is available through the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to households who do not qualify for the utility assistance offered by New York’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

At the beginning of October, there was $150 million available for a one-time payment. Residents must be eligible for HEAP and be behind on their heating utility bills to apply.

About 83,000 HEAP recipients had fallen behind on their utility bills as of March 2021, with households owing $1,370 on average or roughly $113 million statewide.

National Grid offers customers affected by covid the opportunity to pay their past-due bills through manageable monthly installments that come with no downpayment, penalties or financial reporting.

The company also has suspended service disconnects through Dec. 21 for those who can attest to being affected financially by covid. For information on the company’s relief plans, including the payment agreement, visit ngrid.com/covid-19.

If you want to help making your home more energy efficient so you can cut down on your bills, National Grid and the state both offer assistance. New York has a Weatherization Assistance Program (https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/wap.asp). NYSERDA’s offers a range of assistance as well. Visit https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Home-Energy-Efficiency-Upgrades.

And National Grid offers rebates and incentives on energy-efficient products and upgrades. Visit https://www.nationalgridus.com/energy-saving-programs.

Winter is coming fast. And your bills are going to be higher.

Don’t wait to take advantage of programs that will help you weather the weather.

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