O&R Offers Programs and Money-Saving Tips to Help Customers Prepare for Winter Months
As winter weather approaches, Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) is offering programs to help customers with their energy bills, while also sharing energy conserving tips that could help them save money and protect the environment. O&R offers Payment Plans and Assistance, including Budget Billing, which spreads customer costs out throughout the year so they are able to pay off balances over time, rather than all at once. Customers who receive benefits from certain government programs may also qualify for discounts on their monthly energy bills.
As of November 1, New York State’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is open to help qualified customers pay for heating their homes. Learn more about qualification information at Home Energy Assistance Program and visit myBenefits.ny.gov to apply.
The best way for customers to take control of their bill is to manage their usage of gas and electricity.
Customers can follow Tips for Lowering Your Energy Bill and check out the company’s energy efficiency incentives Rebates, Incentives, and Tax Credits for upgrades customers can make to their homes.
Energy Conservation is Critical
Customers can save money on energy by using these tips:
- Set thermostats at the lowest comfortable temperature. Each degree higher increases heating costs.
- Clear area around heating and cooling vents. Carpets, furniture, and other objects can block vents and prevent heated air from circulating in your home.
- Have a qualified contractor clean and inspect heating systems.
- Insulate hot-water pipes and warm-air ducts that pass through unheated areas. Clean or replace filters for the hot-air furnace and heat pump.
- Swap out window shades seasonally. Light-colored window coverings reflect the sun’s energy, while darker ones absorb it and release heat.
- Replace conventional light bulbs with LED bulbs, which are up to 10 times more efficient, and widely available.
- Unplug electronics when they’re not in use. Some high-energy devices like computers, televisions, and game consoles use electricity even when they’re turned off.
Winter Energy Costs
As a result of the rising cost of natural gas delivery charges, O&R projects that both gas and electric bills this winter will be higher than last winter, both reflecting the market price of their respective commodities.
The delivery charges are set by the New York State Public Service Commission following an in-depth, public process.
The company does not set supply costs and does not make a profit on the supply. However, O&R does take steps to keep energy bills as low as possible. These steps include locking in energy prices when energy is cheaper.
Rising natural gas costs increase prices in both the natural gas and electricity markets because natural gas is one of the main fuels that power the production of electricity. O&R buys natural gas and electricity on the wholesale markets and uses a variety of strategies to stabilize pricing for customers.
Natural gas supplies are expected to remain sufficient this winter, but any disruptions from interstate gas transmission providers or severe weather could constrain supplies. O&R remains vigilant in its monitoring of operational conditions.
O&R notes that energy costs can change quickly due to international events, economic trends, weather, and other factors. The company will continue to refine its winter pricing forecast.
The company currently projects that its typical residential natural gas heating customer using an average of 155 ccf per month this winter will pay $231 per month from November 2024 to March 2025, 6.1 percent more than the average bill of $217 per month a year ago.
Based on current projections, a typical O&R residential electric customer using 550 kWh per month this winter will pay about $147 per month, a 6.6 percent increase over last winter’s $138 per month cost.
