With Winter Heating Season Nearing, PSEG Long Island Customers May Be Eligible for Assistance

Core Viewpoint - PSEG Long Island is actively promoting various assistance programs to help customers struggling with utility bills as the winter heating season approaches, emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency and available financial aid [1][3][4]. Assistance Programs - PSEG Long Island encourages customers with past-due accounts to contact them for tailored deferred payment agreements [4]. - The Residential Energy Affordability Partnership Program (REAP) offers free energy-saving services to income-eligible customers, including home energy surveys and installations of energy-saving measures [5]. - New York State's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides heating fuel grants based on income and household size, with a family of four eligible if their gross monthly income does not exceed $6,390 [6]. - Emergency HEAP grants are available to help low- and middle-income New Yorkers avoid heating disconnections, with applications opening on January 2, 2025 [7]. - Eligible homeowners can apply for up to $4,000 for heating equipment repairs or $8,000 for replacements, along with energy efficiency services [7]. Energy Efficiency Tips - Customers are advised to seal windows and doorframes to prevent drafts and save energy [8]. - Using ceiling fans in winter can help circulate warm air, and lowering thermostats by a few degrees can significantly reduce heating bills [9]. - Programmable thermostats can save approximately $100 annually for homes with high heating and cooling bills [10]. - Replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs can reduce lighting energy consumption by up to 90% [11]. - Reducing "phantom power" by using energy-efficient power strips or unplugging devices can also contribute to lower bills [12]. - Installing high-efficiency air source heat pumps can lower energy usage, with rebates available for qualifying customers [13].