HERR - HEAP

Emergency HEAP Benefit

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) has an Emergency HEAP Benefit. You may be eligible for an Emergency HEAP benefit if:

• Your electricity is necessary for your heating system or thermostat to work and is either shut off or scheduled to be shut off or

• Your electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off or

• You are out of fuel, or you have less than one quarter tank of fuel oil, kerosene or propane or have less than a ten (10) day supply of wood, wood pellets, corn, or other deliverable heat source.

• Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guides for your household size 

• You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or

• You receive Temporary Assistance (TA) or

• You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Living Alone and

• The heating and/or electric bill is in your name and

• Your household's available resources are:

• less than $2,500; or

• less than $3,750 if any member of your household is age 60 or older, or under age 6.

The 2024-25 Emergency HEAP Benefit opens Jan. 2, 2025. In the meantime, you can apply for regular HEAP benefits for help paying your utility bills. Learn more about the Emergency HEAP Benefit by visiting HEAP’s website. Contact your local Department of Social Services to apply for this program.

AND

Project Share

The Project SHARE Heating Fund is designed to help income-eligible NYSEG customers with active disconnect notices in its service areas. The fund is administered by HeartShare Human Services of New York. To receive a Project SHARE Heating Fund grant, you must:

• Have an active NYSEG or RG&E account

• Meet the HEAP income guideline

• Have an active disconnect notice

• Exhausted all other assistance programs, such as HEAP, Emergency HEAP and local or county emergency aid

• Must have shut-off notice and denial from DSS during HEAP (they are flexible with requiring DSS denial letters).

Visit NYSEG’s website for more information.

NYSEG Customer Advocate

A NYSEG Customer Advocate provides contact, counsel, and advocacy for residential customers facing special hardships and having difficulty paying their NYSEG bill. The NYSEG Customer Advocate can also make recommendations to help solve problems and make referrals to other services provided by NYSEG and community agencies.

Request a Customer Advocate by calling the general customer helpline number: 1-800-572-1111.

If a customer is elderly (62 and over), blind, or disabled (any age) they may request the help of a Customer Advocate. If someone is on life-sustaining equipment, they should call a Customer Advocate in advance of an emergency and let the Customer Advocate know this so that, in the event of an electric outage, the Customer Advocate can assist with utility restoration as quickly as possible.

Catholic Charities

Oneida County residents:

Catholic Charities offers Community Assistance and has offices located in Utica, Rome and Oneida to better serve you. They can help pay your utilities if you qualify and more. You need to schedule an appointment with Catholic Charities to discuss your eligibility. If you have been denied by the Department of Social Services or the utility company for emergency assistance, bring in your shut-off notice to your first appointment. Call (315) 724-2158 ext. 2248 for Community Assistance in Oneida County or fill out the Financial Assistance Request form. 

Herkimer County residents: 

Catholic Charities Herkimer County offers Emergency Assistance. They can help provide for needs such as food, medication, infant formula, short term shelter, utilities and clothing. For assistance call  315-894-9917 for a Herkimer representative.

Otsego and Schoharie County residents: 

Catholic Charities that serve Otsego and Schoharie counties offer Emergency Assistance. They can help find resources to assist with needs such as utilities, food, transportation, gas, and personal needs. Call (607) 432-0061 ext. 121 for an Otsego representative and (518) 234-3581 for a Schoharie representative. 

Fulton and Montgomery County residents:

Catholic Charities of Fulton and Montgomery Counties offer Emergency Assistance. They have resources to assist with needs such as rent, utilities, etc. For assistance call (518) 842-4202 for Fulton county residents and call (518) 842-4202 for Montgomery residents. Please make sure to have proper documentation with you that is required.

For residents outside of our 6 counties:

You can locate your local Catholic Charities by visiting https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/about-us/find-a-local-agency/. Assistance offerings vary between agencies, so we recommend calling ahead to see what is available.

Public Utility Law Project

Utility consumers often need an advocate in their corner and sometimes even legal representation to ensure fair and affordable access to service. That’s where New York’s Utility Law Project can help. They tackle common problems like getting service, preventing shutoffs, filing complaints, finding energy efficiency programs, and applying for assistance with utility bills.

The Public Utility Law Project of New York, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization, has been advocating for universal service, affordability, and customer protection for New York State utility consumers since 1981. Call 877-669-2572 or email info@utilityproject.org for more information.

United Way/2-1-1

United Way of the Mohawk Valley, 2-1-1, can help guide you to these resources or other services that may help with no-heat concerns.

They may also be able to tell you about assistance their organizations can offer. All Mohawk Valley counties can dial 2-1-1 to reach the local assistance directory. If you live outside those counties, you can locate your local United Way office by visiting United Way’s website.