When New Yorkers finally emerge from the freakish cold of recent weeks, they’ll face another outsize side effect of the wild weather: their utility bills.
Residents typically see bills spike in January and February — but this has been no ordinary January or start of February. The record-breaking cold of this past week hasn’t registered on many bills yet.
In emails and letters to customers, both ConEdison and National Grid are trying to emotionally prepare customers for a big hit.
“We’ve experienced the coldest start to winter in more than a decade,” an email from ConEdison read. “Your next energy bill may be more than you’re used to seeing.”
“Colder weather plays a large role in raising winter energy bills,” National Grid wrote to customers. “When temperatures drop, homes use more energy to stay warm and that increased usage shows up on your bill.”
National Grid warned customers of a close to a 10% bump in their bills following the storm and arctic temperatures. Con Edison didn’t cite a specific number.