• Utility bills have skyrocketed this winter
• It’s frankly out of control and I’m just as angry about it as you are
• We need them to be a much better community partner; this is unacceptable
• Thankfully, there are programs out there that can help those struggling to pay their utility bills
• On the state level, the Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, is a useful tool
• Call 1-800-342-3009 for more information
• The Regular Arrears Supplement Benefit provides up to $10,000 for eligible families who are behind on their heating bills
• To learn more and see if you're eligible, visit www.otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/#regular-arrears-supplement-benefit
• The Energy Affordability Policy provides income-eligible households with a monthly credit on their energy bills

Explanations of commonly used terms on energy bills

KWH: Kilowatt-hour, a basic unit of electricity used

Off-Peak: The period of time when the need or demand for electricity on the company’s system is low, such as late evenings, weekends or holidays

Peak: The period of time when the need or demand for electricity on the company’s system is high, normally during the day Monday through Friday

Meter multiplier: A number by which the usage on certain meters must be multiplied by to obtain the total usage