In the first half of 2025, more than 88,000 households in New York City and Westchester were disconnected from power service by Con Edison. That marks a three-fold rise compared to 2024 amid rising energy costs and shrinking protections. At the same time, arrears on utility bills reached into the hundreds of millions of dollars, overwhelming both utility collections and customer assistance programs.
What’s Driving the Surge in Shutoffs
A report reveals that escalating unpaid bills and shrinking pandemic-era relief have created a perfect storm. As energy prices climbed, many households accrued substantial debt to the utility. With pandemic protections fading, Con Edison stepped up disconnection efforts.
The utility also proposed an 11 percent rate increase, compounding the burden on customers already struggling to catch up. Meanwhile, many low-income households were slow to receive assistance from state or federal support programs, causing a backlog of overdue accounts.
The Human Toll: Heat, Health, and Hardship
Imagine a windowless apartment in the Bronx or upper Manhattan during a mid-summer heatwave. Without air conditioning or even fans, the air feels like a thick blanket pressing in. For families with children, elderly relatives, or those with chronic illness, losing power isn’t just inconvenient—it’s dangerous.
Clients who rely on refrigerated medicines, oxygen concentrators, or other electrical medical devices can be left exposed. Some individuals may struggle to sleep. Others risk heat exhaustion or worse. In homes where parents work overnight shifts or care for small children, the emotional and physical stress multiplies.
Policy Gaps and Legal Protections
There is some relief under consideration. A New York Senate bill S5690 (with companion legislation in the Assembly) would prevent shutoffs during extreme summer heat or winter cold. The bill aims to force utilities and regulators to treat power access like a public good, particularly amid climate-induced weather extremes.
But for many disconnected households, current safeguards are too weak or too slow. Existing assistance via federally funded programs often comes with long wait times or limited reach. The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers some relief, but its funding and delivery cycles often fail to match the urgency of a summer shutdown, leaving vulnerable families caught in limbo.
The Climate-Health Connection
As global temperatures rise, heatwaves in cities like New York become more frequent and intense. Disconnections don’t happen in a vacuum — they occur when people need power the most to stay safe and healthy. Electricity is no longer a luxury; it’s a frontline defense against dangerous indoor heat.
Without cooling, residents can suffer dehydration, heat-related illness, or even heat stroke. The heat burden falls disproportionately on low-income communities and marginalized populations, who are also more likely to face housing insecurity and limited access to green infrastructure. Disconnections magnify those risks.
Possible Paths Forward
- Emergency moratoria: Temporarily halting disconnections during extreme temperatures would prevent health emergencies during heatwaves or cold snaps.
- Expanded payment plans: Utility companies could offer more flexible, income-based payment options, reducing the risk that small arrears spiral into disconnection.
- Arrearage forgiveness pilots: Targeted debt relief for households that have fallen far behind could prevent shutoffs while reducing long-term utility risk.
- Enhanced assistance funding: Increased or more timely LIHEAP disbursements, or similar programs, would help people stay current or catch up faster.
- Long-term system reform: Restructure utility regulation so that rates, collections, and disconnections prioritize public health and climate resilience over profit pressure.
- Weatherization and cooling upgrades: Invest in energy-efficient upgrades, insulation, and affordable air conditioning — turning high-bill households into resilient, low-cost ones.
Data Snapshot
| Metric | 2025 (First Half) | 2024 Comparison / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Households Disconnected | ~88,000+ | About 3× the number in same period 2024 |
| Utility Arrears | Hundreds of millions of dollars | Debt burden pushed by high bills + missed payments |
| Proposed Rate Increase | 11% | Would further strain vulnerable customers |
How to Help or Get Help
If you or someone you know is at risk of a shutoff, consider applying for federal LIHEAP assistance immediately—even partial funds may prevent a cut. Community legal aid clinics in New York City may also assist with appeals, medical hold requests, or emergency reconnections.
To learn more about the red-flag signs that your AC (or your utility account) may be “crying for help,” see this detailed piece: When Your AC Cries for Help: Red Flags You Can’t Ignore.
Why This Matters Now
The massive rise in disconnections is more than a billing issue—it’s a snapshot of how climate risk, energy debt, and inequality intersect. When the grid becomes a barometer of hardship, the stakes are no longer about comfort: they are about survival. As summer heat intensifies and affordability gaps widen, power shutoffs are less a collection tool than a crisis signal, demanding that regulators, utilities, and communities treat energy access as a right, not a privilege.