Erie County has a dedicated team to help residents reduce their energy costs.
Why is my bill so high?
Energy bills across the nation are going up for a few main reasons.
- It costs more to deliver energy. Recent rate increases approved by the New York State Public Service Commission have made bills rise.
- The cost of energy itself goes up when fuel costs and demand go up— those costs are passed on to you.
- Older homes use more energy. Drafts, poor insulation, and older inefficient heating and cooling systems can all make your bill higher.
We can help!
Erie County Energy Affordability Assistance can help you:
- Find and apply for utility bill assistance and prevent shut offs
- Make energy efficient home improvements
- Access renewable energy benefits
See below for details on how we can help you!
Above: Our Energy Assistance team can help you find options and fill out applications.
Help with Utility Bills
If you’re struggling with high utility bills, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
We offer free utility counseling to help you find ways to lower your costs and stay on track. We can help with:
- Working with utility companies to avoid shut offs.
- Connecting to financial assistance to get back on track.
- Preparing applications for assistance programs.
With guidance from trusted local partners, residents can better understand their bills, access available support, and take steps to manage energy costs with confidence.
Home Energy Efficiency
Improving how your home uses energy can lower your monthly utility bills and increase comfort, health, and safety.
To help navigate home energy efficiency opportunities, we can help both renters and homeowners:
- Fill out applications through NYSERDA’S Energy Efficiency Programs.
- Find funding and incentives through Erie County programs for home improvements like:
- Insulation and air sealing
- Heating and cooling system repairs or upgrades
- Appliance repairs or upgrades
- Electrical wiring and panel upgrades
- Other energy assistance/home repairs
- Connect with a qualified contractor to perform these energy upgrades
Above: Smart thermostats can help regulate energy usage automatically. Below: Insulation helps your home stay warmer in winter, and cooler in summer.
Above: Heat pumps heat and cool your home. Below: Roof-top and Community Solar are two ways to reduce your electric bill!
Access Renewable Energy
Erie County is moving toward a clean-energy-powered economy. Benefits to our community include access to new clean energy careers, home improvements, rebates, and decreased reliance on foreign energy.
But there’s a lot of information out there, and people may not know where to start. To help navigate these opportunities, we can:
- Help you access utility bill credits though ECLIPSE Community solar.
- Share information on electric vehicle (EV) charging and rebates.
- Assist with accessing job training and employment in the clean energy sector.
- Provide insight on new technologies for your home including heat-pumps and back-up batteries.
Ways to Contact Us
Interpretation and translation services are free. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can use NY Relay System 7-1-1.