Help With Your Bill

Help With Your Bill

We strive to provide you with reliable and essential energy delivery

Our work doesn’t stop there. We also have many services designed to meet the variety of needs for you and your family.

We're here to help

Understanding your energy use can help put you in control of your monthly bills. You can use these tips to reduce your energy use while maintaining your comfort. Budget Billing can also help balance seasonal energy costs over the year.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program - New York has $2.7 billion in rent relief funds from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). This program provides rental and utility relief payments to help eligible renters maintain housing stability. ERAP applications will no longer be accepted by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance after January 20, 2023. Visit otda.ny.gov/programs/Emergency-Rental-Assistance/ to learn more. If you have been approved for a benefit and have questions on the benefit amount applied to your account, please call 844-NY1RENT (844.691.7368).

Life Support Users

We want to know you are safe. We offer special, personalized benefits and services for customers with life-sustaining equipment:

  • Notifications of planned outages - before any planned outage, we will specifically tag your meter and code your account. This allows us to notify you before any planned electrical outage so you can make alternate arrangements.

For unplanned electrical outages such as a storm, we will make every effort to restore service to you as soon as possible. We recommend that you have plans for providing your own backup or relocate in emergency situations. We'll also keep you updated on power restoration efforts if the duration of an outage extends beyond 24 hours.

  • Critical Contact - Our enhanced texting service provides you a convenient and easy way to communicate with us during a storm. This opportunity allows us to text you in preparation for a storm and to make sure you are safe. Please ensure we have your mobile phone number on file so we can reach you. Please provide us your mobile phone number by calling 585.771.6881 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or email us at Criticalcontact@rge.com.

To stay informed and updated on storm status, restoration times and to report at outage by text, we also encourage you to sign up for Outage Alerts.

  • Assistance with bills during financial hardships - If you or a member of your household relies on life-sustaining equipment, please let us know. If you need electrical service to operate life support equipment, we require the following:
    • Documentation showing you are not financially able to pay your bill (we will then request a medical certificate from your physician).
    • Notification every three months that you are unable to pay and your continuing need to operate life-sustaining equipment.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Regular HEAP is now open.

HEAP is a federal grant program that helps eligible households pay for energy costs and weatherization. Income eligible customers may receive one regular HEAP benefit per season. Contact your county's department of social services for more information.

In addition to regular HEAP, you may also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits. The number of emergency benefits varies per season depending on the availability of funds. 

Funding is limited

HEAP funding is limited so it is important to apply early. If you receive certain Social Security benefits or if you are 60 years of age or older, call your local Office for the Aging and an application may be mailed to you.

Energy Assistance Program (EAP)

EAP is designed to help eligible customers gain control of their energy bills through monthly bill credits.

EAP bill credits are available automatically to any customer who receives a HEAP benefit. No application is needed. We've also expanded eligibility for EAP. If you receive a HEAP benefit for an alternate fuel source or receive other assistance, you may be eligible. EAP bill credits will continue each year as long as a HEAP benefit is applied to your account or you submit the necessary documentation to qualify.

Project SHARE Heating Fund

The Project SHARE Heating Fund is currently open

Our Project SHARE Heating Fund is designed to help income-eligible customers with energy emergencies. Active duty military personnel and well-discharged veterans with an active disconnect notice may qualify regardless of income.

To receive a Project SHARE Heating Fund grant, you must have an active account with us, have an active disconnect notice, meet the current HEAP income guidelines and exhausted all other assistance.

Third Party Notification

This option is designed to protect you from service disconnection due to unpaid bills. Third Party Notification lets you designate a relative, friend, or a social service agency of your choice who you want to receive important information about your account (such as a service disconnection notice). This is particularly advantageous to the elderly and those who live alone or are seriously ill.

Quarterly Billing for Senior Citizens

If you are 62 years of age or older and you meet the guidelines now specified by New York State law, you may pay your bill on a quarterly basis rather than each month. To qualify, you must be a residential customer whose annual billing is $150 or less.

Large-Print Bills

If you are visually-impaired and have difficulty reading your bill, you may request a large-print bill. If you make this request, we will make an enlarged photocopy of your bill and the bill insert each month. Both bills, the original and enlarged photocopy, will be mailed to you for your convenience. There is no charge for this service.

For more information on large-print bills, please contact us.

Braille Bills

If you know someone who is blind, you may request that a Braille bill and bill insert be sent to them. Both bills, the original and the Braille version, will be sent to them for their convenience. There is no charge for this service. To request a Braille bill, please email or contact us.

Special Coding for Seniors

If you are a senior citizen (62 years of age or older) or are blind or disabled and ALL members of your household are senior citizens, blind, disabled, or under 18 years of age, you are covered by certain rights and protections under New York State law. This protection includes an obligation to make special efforts to maintain your service. We will contact you at least three (3) days before a scheduled shutoff for non-payment to work out a fair payment plan with you.

If an agreement cannot be reached, we will notify the Department of Social Services and will continue your service another 15 days. If service is disconnected, we will try to contact you again within 10 days to offer a plan to restore service.

For more information on any of our special needs billing services, please contact us.

Payment Arrangements

If you are having trouble managing your monthly bills, we can help. We now offer online payment arrangements to eligible customers. Simply log in to My Account to see if you have an available payment plan offer for your account and enroll online.

Don't see an online payment agreement? You may still qualify for a payment plan or assistance to bring your account up to date. Contact us at 877.266.3492 and we'll work with you to review available options. We will consider your individual needs and income limitations when working out a down payment and a payment schedule. A down payment may not be necessary and we'll look at options that can help you stay current with your bill while you pay toward your past-due amount. If you are unable to make a payment agreement with us because you do not have the ability to pay, we will refer you to an agency that may be able to assist you.

For more information, please contact us.

Did you know?

Prefer to speak in a language other than English? We offer interpreter services. We also have materials in Spanish.

Do you know about 2-1-1 New York?

2-1-1 New York can connect you to services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including holidays. Agents can link you to information and services you need. The call is free and confidential.

Learn more about 2-1-1 New York, including if this service is available in your area, by visiting their website.

We are here to help

The last thing we want to do is shut off your electricity and natural gas service for nonpayment. If you are having difficulty paying your bill, please call us at 877.266.3492 (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., excluding holidays). The sooner you call, the sooner we can work together on a solution. Here are a few of the services we have to assist you.

Our Services:

Helpful Information:

Other Assistance

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