Experts cite many reasons why the cost of electricity is so high, including aging infrastructure, extreme weather and increased demand, but, no matter what the reasons, everyone agrees that costs have risen dramatically in the past few years.

To make people aware of available help, National Grid sponsors Bill Assistance Webinars throughout the state, with a New York State Consumer Advocacy team providing information and contacts.

The presenters of the webinar were Kari Kelly and Eric R. Raphael, two of 19 Consumer Advocates serving New York State. The program reviewed subjects such as the Home Energy Assistance Program or HEAP, the Energy Affordability Program or EAP, the new Enhanced Energy Affordability Program, known as EEAP, heating funds, billing and payment plans and important contacts.

The Energy Affordability Program provides a monthly discount on home energy bills for income eligible customers. Kelly said this is automatic for those who also take part in HEAP. The program offers a tiered level of benefits, she added.

Kelly said that customers may also qualify for EAP if they receive one of the following: Medicaid, Child Health Plus, SNAP, Safety Net Assistance, SSI, TANF, Veteran’s Disability Pension, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Lifeline Telephone Service of certain programs for those who live on tribal lands.

The new Enhanced Energy Affordability Program just launched in January, Kelly said, and is for middle income families who are not eligible for HEAP. The credit is applied automatically after enrollment and is valid for up to 18 months, she said.

Kelly also offered information on HEAP, Emergency HEAP and Domestic Electric Emergency HEAP. She also noted that HEAP offers a Cooling Assistance Program, which assists eligible households in the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or fan to keep the home cool.

Project Warmth is for residents of Long Island and the Neighborhood Heating Fund targets residents of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, Kelly said. Care & Share is for residents of Upstate New York and is administered by HeartShare Human Services of New York, Kelly said. It provides emergency financial assistance to income eligible households who are having difficulty paying their energy bills, she added.

Kelly went on to describe another program administered by HeartShare Human Services of New York, called Hope & Warmth Energy Fund. This provides moderate income households with a one-time emergency grant. The grant cannot be used to restore service, she noted.

Eric R. Raphael presented various options that customers have for paying their bills, depending on their circumstances. The most common choice is the budget plan, which allows customers to spread their energy costs over 12 predictable monthly payments, he said. This plan may be adjusted up or down every six months, depending on actual energy usage, he added.

Customers who get into arrears on their bills, can enroll in a payment plan with an initial down payment that spreads the balance over monthly installments, Raphael said.

Special protections are also available for customers who need extra help, Raphael said. These include people who are elderly, blind, disabled or who use life-sustaining equipment. Customers seeking these protections in upstate New York can call 1-800-642-4272 or visit the website at ngrid.com/uny-specialprotections.

Raphael also talked about how individuals can better understand their energy bills, as well as the EmPower + Program, which is a program administered by NYSERDA. EmPower + helps income eligible households save energy by assisting them with energy improvements in their homes, he said.

The webinar concluded with a question and answer period, during which consumer advocates helped clarify the information provided and answered specific questions about the programs.

National Grid will continue to conduct customer assistance events and webinars to “to provide customers with options to manage their energy bills.” Customers can get more information about future webinars at ngrid.com/hereforyou.