A new analysis shows NYC heating costs have jumped $60 per month in three years — and many families are struggling to keep up
Record Gas Demand, Record Bills
On February 9, 2026, National Grid reported the highest single-day natural gas delivery in New York City in years. The extreme cold that gripped the region through January and into February drove demand to near-record levels, pushing up wholesale gas prices and sending energy bills soaring for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. By the time those bills arrived in customers’ mailboxes, many were prepared — the utilities had been sending advance warnings for weeks — but preparedness and affordability are not the same thing. For working families already stretched by the city’s housing costs, food prices, and transportation expenses, a utility bill that has risen by more than $60 per month over three years is not an abstraction. It is a choice between paying the bill and paying something else.
The Numbers
According to data cited by state legislators, the average monthly cost of gas heating for National Grid customers in New York City has increased from approximately $110 in 2023 to $172 in 2026 — a 56 percent increase in three years. For Con Edison customers, heating costs that averaged around $205 per month in 2022 now exceed $250 per month, with additional rate increases approved by the Public Service Commission set to phase in through 2028. Even at moderated levels — Con Edison’s approved rate increase runs to 3.5 percent for electricity in 2026, below the double-digit increase originally proposed — the compounding effect on households already under financial stress is significant. Approximately one in seven New York State households was two or more months behind on energy bills as of September 2025, according to state legislators. Collectively, those households are in debt more than $1.3 billion to utilities.
What Help Is Available
Several programs exist to help New Yorkers who are struggling with energy costs. The federal Home Energy Assistance Program provides one-time grants for eligible low-income households. The New York State energy affordability program can reduce monthly bills by up to $50 for qualifying customers. Both Con Edison and National Grid offer payment plans and deferred payment arrangements for customers who cannot pay in full. The Public Utility Law Project offers a free telephone hotline at 877-669-2572 for guidance on navigating utility billing and assistance programs. NYSERDA maintains a database of all available energy efficiency and affordability programs at nyserda.ny.gov.
The Policy Fight Behind the Bills
Advocates have spent years pushing for the NY HEAT Act, state legislation that would cap utility bills at 6 percent of household income and limit future investments in gas infrastructure that ultimately get charged back to consumers. The legislation has not yet passed. Meanwhile, the underlying economic structure that drives high utility costs in New York — aging infrastructure, a reliance on fossil fuels for grid electricity, and a regulatory framework that allows utilities to pass infrastructure investment costs through to ratepayers — has not changed. The City NYC has published detailed reporting on the winter billing crisis, documenting the human impact of rising energy costs on renters and homeowners across the five boroughs. For New Yorkers trying to manage their bills, the most important first step is contacting their utility directly and asking about available assistance options.
