Energy is critical for health and climate resilience — but not all New Yorkers may be able to afford it

Whether it’s electricity powering air conditioning in the summer, gas or oil heating in the winter, or the other forms that energy can take, people need energy to stay healthy and safe. Energy also powers life-sustaining medical equipment, keeps refrigerators running at safe temperatures for food and medicines, and lets us charge phones needed to call for help and get information during an emergency. But not every New Yorker can afford the energy they need. While conserving energy is good for the environment, being forced to go without energy when it’s needed due to cost is dangerous to health. When people can’t afford to pay their energy bill or to purchase or maintain a heating or cooling system, it’s a form of energy insecurity. Due to rising outdoor temperatures, the demand for energy to keep us safe goes up, and so do the costs.

Both increasing energy demand and unaffordable energy can worsen energy insecurity

Higher energy use makes people’s energy bills higher. These costs, in turn, force people to make choices about using the energy they may need every day, and during extreme weather. This can result in a “heat or eat” dilemma, where people concerned about paying their energy bills can forgo food, or even medicine because electricity is unaffordable. This can result in chronic stress and other health risks that can take a toll on mental and physical health.

Almost 3 in 10 of New Yorkers — 28% — experience three or more forms of energy insecurity, like receiving a disconnection notice due to inability to pay, being too hot or cold at home, and using less energy because of cost. Over a third of New Yorkers are using less energy, because they can’t afford it.

More than a fifth of New Yorkers (21%) have trouble paying utility bills, and many New Yorkers are in debt to utility companies.

Unaffordable energy can be a matter of life and death 

About one in three New Yorkers reported that their homes were too hot or too cold to be comfortable and safe. This can cause or trigger health issues , like asthma, heart problems, and mental health conditions.

Heat-exacerbated deaths, which can happen when being too hot makes a chronic condition worse, have been increasing in the last decade. This is due to climate change increasing the number of hot days and heat waves, both of which are dangerous.

But 34% of energy-insecure New Yorkers reduced or did not use air conditioning during hot weather because of energy cost concerns. Renters with air conditioning are likely to have control over cooling their home, and choosing not to use air conditioning is an easy — but dangerous — option to lower electric bills. When it gets cold out, renters are less likely to control the heat in their units, making them more likely to rely on dangerous supplemental heating methods if their homes aren’t warm enough. These methods, like using the oven to heat a space, can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and fires.

Rented units with cracks, gaps, or holes in need of maintenance are also more expensive to heat and cool.

New Yorkers who have trouble paying utility bills are more likely to be renters and live in properties with housing problems that threaten health. In some lower-income neighborhoods, more than half of renter-occupied homes need maintenance to address mold, pests, lead paint hazards, or other issues that affect health. Neighborhood poverty levels are determined by the percentage of people in a neighborhood with an income below the federal poverty line.

Black and Latino New Yorkers are more likely to experience energy insecurity 

Energy insecurity is not just about affordability; it is an equity issue. Black and Latino New Yorkers are more likely to experience energy insecurity and power outages, and are also more likely to live in housing in need of maintenance. And Black New Yorkers are twice as likely to die of heat-related illness than white New Yorkers. These disparities are a result of structural racism, driven by racist housing policies such as redlining, discriminatory neighborhood disinvestment and less access to quality resources.

Other New Yorkers more likely to be experiencing energy insecurity include New Yorkers who:

• Have recently immigrated to the US
• Were born outside the US
• Have had less education
• Use electric medical equipment

Fixing the equity gap in energy access means ensuring these New Yorkers are prioritized through policies and programs.

Lowering energy bills, equitable air conditioning access and addressing building conditions will increase health and energy access 

But there are ways to make access to energy more equitable, which would also support safe and healthy housing. Social benefit programs that subsidize energy bills or provide equipment are critical to ensuring energy security. While New York City is still early in the process of tackling energy insecurity, the City’s long-term energy plan includes reducing energy costs for low- and middle-income New Yorkers. The federal and state Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides assistance with winter energy costs and purchase of air conditioners in the summer, though its coverage would benefit more New Yorkers by expanding to include energy bills year-round. The Energy Affordability Program (EAP) helps low-income consumers with a discount on their utility bills. While some eligible New Yorkers — like recipients of HEAP — are automatically enrolled for EAP, many households, including those on Medicaid, must enroll separately to receive assistance.

As seasonal temperatures continue to climb because of climate change, NYC has made it a goal to set a required maximum temperature for residences. A maximum allowable temperature would mirror the minimum allowable temperature set decades ago to prevent freezing to death at home, protecting low-income renters as climate change continues to make our summers hotter.

Beneficial building electrification will reduce emissions that worsen climate change, upgrade housing conditions and efficiency, and expand access to affordable energy, maximizing public health and equity benefits. For example, the New York City Housing Authority, which houses more than 300,000 New Yorkers, is upgrading its public housing properties through a program called Clean Heat for All. This initiative will install building insulation improvements, phase out fossil fuel-burning boilers, and provide every tenant in participating developments with electric heat pumps that provide both heat and cooling at no cost to households. Electric heat pumps also provide renters more control over heating and cooling their homes.

With improvements to housing and energy assistance programs, we can work towards energy security for all New Yorkers.

Sign up for alerts and apply for assistance. 

• Register your electric medical equipment with Con Ed.
• Apply for energy bill assistance with Con-Ed.
• Apply to the Home Energy Assistance Program for heating bill assistance or a free air conditioner.
• Call 311 if you do not have heat or power in your home.
• Be prepared for an outage.
• Learn about the signs of heat-related illness and what to do if you or someone you know is experiencing it.
• Sign up for notify NYC. Look out for alerts about severe weather, power outages, and dangerous hot weather

To learn more about how energy insecurity and health impacts are changing in NYC, read the NPCC4 Climate and Health chapter. There are also dedicated chapters in NPCC4 on flooding, climate justice, and more at the New York City Panel on Climate Change website, where you can real the full assessment along with overviews, key messages, and special reports.