Linda Stern locked up her White Plains house at the end of January, unplugged the appliances, turned the heat down to 65 degrees and headed off to the Caribbean for five weeks with her husband.

She soon discovered that she may have escaped the cold but not the surging heating bills New Yorkers faced this winter.

Though she was away most of the two months, her Con Edison gas and electric bills for January and February totaled around $1,430, the bulk of that for gas delivery charges for a 1,600-square foot Tudor in the Battle Hill neighborhood.

She spent roughly the same to rent an apartment on a Caribbean island for five weeks.

“We’re retired,” said Stern. “We’re not making any more money…It’s absolutely crazy.”

How many older New Yorkers cut back on basics to pay utility bills?

An AARP survey of New Yorkers 50 and older released this month suggests Stern, 65, isn’t the only one feeling the pain.

Half of the 1,008 surveyed during a week in February, said in order to pay utility bills, they were cutting back on the basics like groceries and transportation, 22% borrowed money or took on debt and nearly 20% cut back on medical expenses, like prescription medications.

“That just sent red flags up all over the place for AARP,” said Bill Ferris, the New York legislative representative for the AARP. “You can’t jeopardize people’s health. To us, the governor and the legislature need to come together and fix this problem in the short term and in the long term.”

More utility shutoffs on the way in NY?

Year-end totals from the state Public Service Commission analyzed by the AARP show nearly 400,000 households had their gas or electric service shut off in 2025 for failing to pay bills. Those shutoffs peaked in April and May and again in August and September as utilities suspend most shutdowns during the coldest and warmest months of the year, according to an AARP analysis.

As of February, over 1.1 million households were 60 days behind on their gas and electric bills, with debts around $1.8 billion.

Ferris said more shutoffs come be coming over the next two months.

“If the past is any indication, then a big wave is coming and we think it’s probably going to be bigger than 2025 because prices this year and at the end of 2025 have been very high,” Ferris said.

The AARP and the Public Utilities Law Project, a consumer advocacy group, are pressing the governor and state lawmakers to adopt a series of measures to address what they’re calling an energy affordability crisis.

Heading the list are rebates for ratepayers. Under a proposal introduced by Assembly Democrats, households with incomes under $150,000 would get a $500 check while those earning between $150,000 and $300,000 would receive $300. Assembly Republicans are proposing rebate checks of up to $400 depending on income level.

The consumer advocates also want the state to invest $200 million to reduce costs for low- and moderate-income households.

NY utility rate rules 'stacked' against the ratepayer

And in the long term, they want the state to set aside $2.1 million to fund an independent consumer advocate office that would represent the side of ratepayers during hearings before the state Public Service Commission.

“The rules and the playing field are stacked against the residential ratepayer,” Ferris said.

State Sen. Shelley Mayer, a Westchester County Democrat and frequent critic of Con Edison, echoed the concerns highlighted by the AARP survey.

“The results of AARP’s utility affordability survey, while deeply troubling, are unfortunately not surprising,” Mayer said. “Across New York, rising utility bills burden everyone, including seniors, those on fixed incomes, and middle-class families as well. AARP’s data underscores what we have known for years, and what we have heard in greater numbers following rate increase proposals — New Yorkers are making immense sacrifices to pay their bills.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed several legislative measures to curb utility spending, including linking executive pay to utility rates and removing so-called hidden fees for utility fines and legal fees.