New Comptroller Report: Rising Heat Kills Hundreds of New Yorkers Every Summer While Energy Costs Surge

New York, NY—As summer temperatures begin to rise, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander published a new report, Record Highs: Tackling Energy Insecurity in the Heat of the Climate Crisis, warning that New Yorkers are on the brink of a utility bill affordability crisis. Rate hikes coupled with increased heat waves brought on by climate change are hurting families’ bottom lines; worse, the Trump Administration called for cancelling both the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the ENERGY STAR program, two federal initiatives that reduce household energy costs.  

“The summer season is upon us and so are heatwaves and high utility bills,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “Millions of New Yorkers will have to decide between paying for air conditioning, rent, or putting food on the table, and as a result, hundreds could die from preventable heatstroke. With Trump shutting off energy assistance programs, states and cities need to power up to make energy more affordable by curbing energy rate hikes, prioritizing financial supports like the NY HEAT Act, and expanding alternative affordable public power through renewables and solar.”  

2024 was the hottest year on record. By 2080, New York City could experience ten heat waves each summer and see six times more days above 90°F. Hotter summers drive up the need for air conditioning, increasing the costs of cooling costs by more than 50% in the last decade. Citywide, 11% of New Yorkers do not have air conditioners at home.  

The growing frequency and severity of heat waves is not only a financial concern, each year, 580 New Yorkers die prematurely due to extreme heat. The ability to afford air conditioning can be a matter of life or death: 42% of the people who died at home during extreme heat had air conditioners that were not working or in use, while 58% had no air conditioning at all. 

In the last five years, 3.5 million New Yorkers fell behind on utility payments and 1.9 million households experienced utility shutoffs because they could not pay their bills. Utility debt has doubled since before the pandemic. Energy insecurity is even higher for low-income, Black, and Latino New Yorkers, who are eight times as likely to have utilities shut off than white and affluent New Yorkers.   

Even with the current state of climate and energy insecurity, New Yorkers may see even steeper increases in basic utility costs:  

• ConEd’s proposed electricity rate hike would raise the average household electricity bill by $31 per month, or $372 year.   

• Trump’s proposed termination of the LIHEAP program would leave over a million households in New York City struggling to afford the basic costs of energy.   

• LIHEAP benefits already fell far short of addressing the energy bill needs of New Yorkers. Due to limited funding, only half of eligible households receive assistance—and while the program may cover the cost of an air conditioner, State restrictions prohibit any help with the cost of running it.  

• Trump’s proposed elimination of ENERGY STAR could increase average household energy costs by $450 annually.   

To combat rising energy costs and heat, the report recommends: 

1. Limiting rate increases, while strengthening and expanding the New York State Energy Affordability Program to ensure that any increases are fair and necessary and to enable more customers to access financial support.   

1. Passing the NY HEAT Act, which would end the expansion of gas infrastructure and cap the utility bills of low- and moderate-income New Yorkers across the State to 6% of household income.  

1. Establishing a Right to Cooling that requires landlords to maintain a minimum indoor air temperature during hot summer months by providing air conditioners for heat-vulnerable tenants.   

1. Expanding public power for clean, affordable energy through the City’s new Public Solar NYC initiative and increase renewable energy projects through New York Power Authority (NYPA).  

“The Comptroller’s report drives home the point that so many New Yorkers are already feeling in their wallets – the rates are too damn high! Whether it’s our local utilities asking for sky-high rate increases, or the Trump Administration killing federal programs that save regular Americans money, we continue to move in the wrong direction. That’s why we need to pass the NY HEAT Act, to save New York ratepayers billions of dollars that are currently being wasted on unnecessary gas infrastructure and lining the pockets of utility shareholders,” said State Senator Liz Krueger.  

“This new report underscores just how much climate change and our outdated energy system is leading to higher utility bills for New Yorkers. Utility companies are charging New Yorkers for the ungodly cost of repairing and expanding old, leaky fossil fuel pipelines that are bad for the environment and wildly expensive. The NY HEAT Act is a forward-looking plan that transitions us away from fossil fuels and opens up options for less expensive, better technology. I’m glad to see Comptroller Lander recommend the NY HEAT Act and energy affordability programs that will truly help New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon. 

“As temperatures in the city continue to rise and the cost of energy climbs, New Yorkers are growing concerned about their ability to keep their homes cool. Con Edison rate hikes and proposed federal cuts of the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program and Energy Star program would be detrimental for many—especially to lower income families who are already struggling to survive in a city where the cost of living continues to rise. It is critical we pass the NY HEAT Act to ensure energy affordability and equal access to cooling for our communities. No families should be forced to choose between essential household utilities and other daily needs, like childcare and groceries,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “I stand with Comptroller Lander in urging the state and federal government to protect all New Yorkers from unaffordable Con Edison bills, and to expand access to clean, affordable energy.”  

“Over the next five years, temperatures will continue rising past a point of no return for humankind. Fighting climate change requires local action and our archaic energy grid is not equipped to deal with increased energy use brought on by extreme heat. Future heat waves will put unprecedented physical and financial strain on our communities. The only rational thing to do is to bring our energy production and storage under public control, fully abandon fossil fuels, and mitigate harm,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse, Progressive Caucus Co-Chair. 

“Environmental justice communities in New York cannot continue to bear the higher energy burden, energy instability, and toxic pollution because of decades of policy failure. This policy brief demonstrates a clear imperative for all levels of government, from the State Legislature to public authorities and City government, to aggressively implement measures that ensure that basic infrastructure can be functional, healthy, and affordable, especially in communities struggling to pay energy bills and are sick from pollution. As we enter another summer with hotter-than-expected temperatures, our State and local leaders must act now to allow people to stay cool without breaking the bank or risking their lives,” said Eddie Bautista, Executive Director, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance 

“Our bills are too damn high, and extreme heat is a death sentence for vulnerable New Yorkers. New York is facing twin threats of climate change and a rising cost of living. As the Trump administration continues its assault on the environment and drives up prices, New York must lead the way in taking on the greedy corporations raising our bills and endangering our communities. Thankfully, Comptroller Lander highlights solutions that are practical, popular, and necessary – like eliminating massive ratepayer subsidies for fossil fuel infrastructure by passing the NY HEAT Act, and supporting the buildout of renewable public power,” said Eric Weltman, Senior Organizer, Food & Water Watch. 

“Energy affordability has reached a crisis level in New York State, with 1.4 million New Yorkers struggling to pay their energy bills this past winter,” said Lonnie Portis, Acting Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “The extreme heat season is fast approaching, which is a concern because Blacks are twice as likely to die from heat-related issues in New York City – with energy affordability being a key factor. Adding to this concern is the fact that the State’s LIHEAP funds – which 1.1 million New Yorkers rely upon to cool their homes – have run out before the end of July these last few years, and the future of the program is in jeopardy after the Trump administration laid-off the staff who run the program. That is why energy affordability needs to be a priority, and the State has to pass the NY HEAT Act.” 

Read the full report: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/record-highs-tackling-energy-insecurity-in-the-heat-of-the-climate-crisis 

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