Does your ConEd bill seem unusually high? Here's what you can do about it

The bitter winter months can be emotionally draining for even the most hardened New Yorker. But many New York City tenants are finding that the cold weather has brought another burden: Surprisingly high utility bills.

So what is causing these surging bills? It’s both the frigid weather and Consolidated Edison’s annual rate increases that were approved back in 2023—the last time a state board set rate hikes. 

Still, it's a shock for most customers. Users on several NYC Reddit threads have shared their frustration with spikes in their bills and electricity or gas usage, with comments from dozens of New Yorkers who have seen similar increases. 

Those higher costs come as ConEd proposes raising electric bills by an average of 11.4 percent and gas bills by 13.3 percent starting next year, Gothamist reported. Governor Kathy Hochul has called on the New York State Public Service Commission to reject the proposed rate hike and to audit utility employees salaries and compensation.

As ConEd and state regulators debate the future price of your utility bills, here’s what you can do to lower them in the meantime.

[Editor's note: A previous version of the article ran in February 2022. We are presenting it again with updated information for February 2025.]

What's causing the increase? 

You might expect to pay a bit more each month when temperatures drop, but your final bill can still come as a shock.

“It's going to cost you more in January to keep your apartment at 64 degrees [for example] than it is in December because it’s colder,” said Allan Drury, a spokesperson for ConEd.

The average NYC residential customer paid $104.46 for their electric bill and $208.37 for their gas bill in 2023, according to ConEd. But Brick Underground spoke with one tenant who saw her electric bill jump by $200 from January to February and her electricity use increase, even as she tried to limit her heat.

“I knew it would be expensive, but not this expensive,” said Michelle, a Ridgewood, Queens tenant living in a three-bedroom apartment with electric heat.

Michelle said she plans to call ConEd to have a technician read her meter in person. (ConEd reads meters remotely, and it’s possible that the company could mistake one tenant’s meter for their neighbor, though it’s rare, according to Drury.)

In the meantime, Michelle has taken a few steps to lower her electric usage, like leaving the heat off and unplugging appliances when she leaves her apartment, and hanging her clothes to dry instead of using her dryer.

How to lower your bills

Those strategies—plus a few more—should work to lower your bill. The best way to get your electric bill down is to decrease your use, Drury said.

Lowering your thermostat is a good step. And if you have a coveted in-unit washer and dryer, you could wash your clothes in cold water to reduce energy consumption for each load of laundry by half, according to the utility company. 

Cleaning your AC ducts or vents can also help warm up your apartment. And if you have a dishwasher, using it less—or only when it’s full—can reduce your energy usage.

ConEd also offers some incentives for landlords to upgrade their heating and cooling equipment, so consider nudging your building's owner to make some changes.

Here's how to get help 

If your bill remains stubbornly or suspiciously high, your first step should be to contact ConEd—and make sure to keep a record of your communications. 

You can call 1-800-752-6633 to discuss your bill with a customer service representative. It’s possible there’s a mistake in your bill, or that another tenant is siphoning your electricity, though Drury said that scenario is extremely rare.

If ConEd doesn’t resolve your issue, you can file an online complaint with the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) or by calling the state’s hotline at 800-342-3377 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. During the complaint process, DPS recommends paying the portion of your bill that you’re not disputing to avoid your service being shut down.

You can also file a complaint jointly with other building tenants, which would prompt a Public Service Commission investigation. But you’ll need at least 24 other people to sign on to file.

Lastly, you can reach out to your local city council person to put more pressure on ConEd and the Public Service Commission to resolve your complaint.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article contained reporting by Austin Havens-Bowen.

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