Financial Resources
Help Heating and Cooling Your Home
If you need help heating or cooling your home, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) may be able to help you.
HEAT: The Regular HEAP benefit opened on November 1, 2024 and the Emergency HEAP benefit opened on January 2, 2025, which can help you heat your home during a heat related emergency. To find out if you are eligible, please go to NYS HEAP.
COOLING: Starting April 15, 2025, eligible households can apply for a first-come first-served one-time Cooling Assistance Benefit to assist in keeping your home cool. You can use this benefit to help purchase and install a single air conditioner or fan. You can find information about eligibility requirements, allowable cooling equipment, and the benefit limits on the NYS HEAP website.
Utilities
If you are having trouble paying your utility bills or received a disconnection notice, New York State is offering financial help and protections to help maintain your utility service and pay down your arrears. Eligible households can apply for help through the New York State Energy Affordability & Electric and Gas Bill Relief Program. To learn if you are eligible and how to apply go to Energy Affordability & Electric and Gas Bill Relief Program.
You can also contact your utility company to let them know you are having trouble paying your utility bills and ask them for help like a deferred payment plan or installment payment plan. You can learn more from the NYS Department of Public Service.
If the utility company shuts off services,
- You can call the Department of Public Services Helpline at 1-800-342-3377
- You can File a Complaint.
- Call the Public Utility Law Project of NY hotline at 877-669-2572. They may be able to get you an immediate turn-on order.
Canceling Utility, Phone, Internet, Cable Contracts
If you are a domestic violence victim and share a contract with the person who is abusing you for any of these services,
- phone services
- internet services
- cable or satellite services
- utility services
you can cancel or opt-out of these contracts without paying a penalty or fee. You must provide an attestation (a signed document) stating that you are a victim of domestic violence. The provider cannot require you to share confidential information or details about your being a victim.
For more information, please see the legislation.