Home heating prices are up as natural gas supply costs continue to surge in the U.S. This comes as households face staggering utility debt.
New Yorkers owe a combined $1.7 billion in utility arrears as of this March. That’s more than double what they owed in March 2020.
Amber Johnson with the New York Energy Democracy Alliance said the surge in prices affects every household, but the toll is greater for low-income residents.
"People that don't have a disposable income or things to move and shake are getting equally as high bills, but the impact is different," Johnson said. "Because now it's like, well, I don't have money to move and shake. That means that, okay, maybe I can't have gas in my car this week. Because people need to have their heat on."
Johnson said she worries people who can’t pay off their debt will face utility shut offs as temperatures warm.
Pandemic protections that shielded customers from service cuts expired in December. Come April 15, cold weather protections will loosen, too.
Under law, customers in New York have at least 35 days from when their bill is due to come up with other options before utility providers can cut their power. Lawyers with the non-profit Public Utility Law Project advise residents with utility debt to pay what they can, when they can. They say that will help them negotiate deferred payment options.
Utility providers like NYSEG also offer flexible payment plans. Applications for future home cooling assistance will open on May 2. A company spokesperson said while NYSEG hasn’t raised its delivery rates, the cost to supply gas is up.
"For the debt in general, like, including the COVID debt, I want to see NYSEG pay for it," Johnson said.