1. science
2. weather

Con Edison’s Concern Program Newsletter
Winter 2014
Dear Readers:
Cash for Appliances
The winter season is once again upon
us, and if 2013 taught us anything, it’s
that you never know what winter in
New York will bring. Snowfall totals
over the past 10 years have ranged
from a high of 61.9 inches in 20102011 down to a low of just 7.4 inches,
recorded only a year later in 2011-2012!
Purchase a high-efficiency refrigerator
and our Green Team will give you a $50
rebate. Get a $10 rebate for purchasing an
ENERGY STAR® dehumidifier. If you have
an old refrigerator or freezer, we’ll pay
you $50 for each one that you allow us to
remove and recycle.
For more information and a list of qualifying
equipment, visit conEd.com/greenteam or
call 1-800-430-9505.
Last year’s 57.4 inches of snow was
the second highest total of the past
decade. And, if you believe the Farmer’s
Almanac, this winter could again be
marked by frigid temperatures and
above-average snowfall.
Extreme weather can cause large spikes
in the price of energy. Con Edison
has no control over energy-supply
prices. However, we use a variety of
buying strategies in an effort to obtain
the best prices we can. Here are some
steps that you can take to help keep
your energy costs down:
n If your health permits, set your
thermostat to 68 degrees during
the day and 60 degrees at night and
when no one is home. Each degree
over 68 can increase the energy that
you use for heating by three percent.
n Keep drapes and furniture away
from radiators and baseboard
heaters so heat can flow freely.
n Visit conEd.com/waystosave for
more than 100 additional energyefficiency tips.
n Our Level Billing Plan can help
reduce the impact of fluctuating
energy costs. Visit conEd.com/
managemybill for this and other
billing programs.
n Another way to protect against
fluctuating prices is to purchase
your electric and gas supply from
an Energy Services Company (ESCO)
that offers a fixed-price option. For
more, visit poweryourway.com or
powertochooseny.com.
As always, have a happy and healthy
winter. And, thank you for being a
valued Con Edison customer.
Sincerely,
Chris Gallo, Editor
Free Programmable
Thermostat
Energy Bill Relief
Con Edison offers programs and services
to help customers manage, and even
reduce, their energy bills. Some are
highlighted here. But, for a complete list,
visit conEd.com.
Trouble Paying Your Bill?
Our level payment plan can help you
manage your bills and budget for your
energy costs. We estimate your energy bills
a year in advance and then spread the
payments evenly over 12 months. For
more information, or to enroll, visit
conEd.com/levelpayment.
If you’re behind on your bills, we can
often help with an extension or
payment agreement. For assistance, call
1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).
Have a One- to Four-Family
Home?
Take your home’s energy performance to
the next level with help from our Green
Team. A number of rebate and incentive
programs are available, including:
HVAC Rebates
Lower your heating and cooling costs by up
to 30 percent and get cash rebates to do it?
It’s true. The rebates are available through
Con Edison’s Green Team and the Heating,
Ventilation and Air Conditioning Program.
If your home has
a central heating
and air conditioning system,
you qualify to
receive a free
programmable thermostat valued at $300. We’ll even
install it at no cost and send you $25 as a
thank you.The thermostat provides
greater control over the energy that you
use to heat and cool your home. The
accompanying app allows you to control it
remotely using your smartphone or tablet.
To learn more, visit conEd.com/cool or
call 1-866-521-8600.
Convert to Natural
Gas – Good for
the Environment
and Your Wallet
Natural gas burns cleaner than oil, which
means it’s better for the environment.
Gas heating systems also run more
efficiently, so, in most cases, heating
with gas will save you money. For more
information on converting from oil to
gas, call 1-800-643-1289 or visit
conEd.com/gasconversions.
We also offer Senior Direct at
1-800-404-9097, so that older
customers can conveniently speak
with a Con Edison representative.
The CONCERN newsletter, Spotlight,
is published twice a year.
Page 2
Spotlight Warning signs include: disorientation,
drowsiness, slow heartbeat, weakened
pulse, and slurred speech. Severe hypothermia can lead to heart failure and death.
You can prevent hypothermia by regulating
your environment and retaining body heat
during cold weather. Here are a few tips:
n Set the thermostat to an appropriate
Don’t Forget Fido
For many, pets are more than animals, they
are beloved companions and trusted family
members. As such, it is important to keep
pets in mind when planning for emergencies. Here are a few things to consider:
n If you need to evacuate your
home, where will you go?
Try to identify a pet-friendly hotel,
a kennel, or a friend or relative’s home,
or other location where you can
take your pet.
n How will you get there? Pets in
carriers are allowed on MTA subways,
busses, and trains. In the event of an
emergency, pets too large for carriers
are also permitted — providing they
are muzzled and controlled on a sturdy
leash no more than four feet long.
n What if you can’t get home to
your pet? Make arrangements in
advance to have a trusted friend, relative,
or neighbor care for your pet in your
absence. Place stickers at the main
entrances to alert rescue workers to the
number and types of animals inside.
temperature (don’t risk your health by
setting your thermostat too low), block
drafts, and insulate walls, crawlspaces,
and windows. Wear sweaters and layers
of warm clothing indoors. Outdoors,
wear long underwear, a sweater under
your coat, and a hat, gloves, and a scarf.
n Limit your intake of alcoholic drinks.
They may make you feel warm, but they
do not keep your body warm.
n Be extremely cautious taking hypertension,
anxiety, depression, or nausea medications as they can affect body heat. Check
with your doctor about the effects of
your medication.
If you know any people who live alone,
check on them during cold weather. If
you or someone you know shows signs
of hypothermia, seek medical attention
immediately.
HYPOTHERMIA —
A Cold-Weather
Hazard
Cold weather is especially risky for
seniors. Winter hazards can mean broken
bones from falls, breathing difficulties in
cold air, and hypothermia (internal body
temperature below 96 degrees). While it
may be a less recognized danger to health,
hypothermia is usually caused by staying
in a too cold place for too long. It’s a
special problem for older people with
conditions such as a slow thyroid or who
take medications that interfere with the
body’s ability to regulate its temperature.
Guests may choose to contribute toward
a host’s monthly household expenses or
provide household services in exchange
for lower or even zero monthly payments.
The program also serves hosts age 55 and
older who wish to share their dwelling
with high-functioning developmentally
disabled guests age 18 and older who are
capable of living independently.
Professional social workers provide
confidential screening and matching services
as well as assistance with negotiating the
shared living arrangements. Since 1981,
the program has matched more than 2,000
participants. For more, call 1-212-962-7559.
Respite Care Program
This program offers affordable ($8 per hour),
short-term home care by certified attendants
for the elderly when regular caregivers need
time off or when an elderly person needs
temporary help following hospitalization.
Services include personal care and hygiene,
meal preparation, shopping, escorting, light
housekeeping, and laundry. Applicants must
be at least 60 years of age, New York City
residents, and require daily living assistance.
For more, call 1-212-962-7559.
Home Care Program
To learn more about hypothermia and
obtain our brochure Take Care In Hot
& Cold Weather, call the Con Edison
EnergyLine at 1-800-609-4488.
The Home Care Program employs more
than 1,100 certified home attendants, certified home health aides, and housekeepers to care for Medicaid and dual eligible,
Medicaid/Medicare home-care recipients
in NYC. Under the supervision of administrators, registered nurses and social
workers visit seniors at home to assess
their needs and supervise the home-care
workers employed by the foundation.
Foundation professionals train home-care
workers to perform daily tasks such as
health-related personal care, housekeeping,
shopping and cooking, as well as accompanying seniors to medical appointments.
For more, call 1-212-962-7559.
For NYC Seniors
Home Repair and Safety
Audit Programs
You should also prepare a “go bag”
containing pet food, a leash and muzzle,
proof of ownership, any necessary
medications, etc. Plan ahead and you
and Fido will stay safe and sound in the
event of an emergency.
For more information, visit nyc.gov/oem
and review the Ready New York for Pets
brochure.
Winter 2014
New York Foundation for Senior Citizens
is dedicated to helping New York City’s
seniors enjoy healthier, safer, and more
productive and dignified lives in their own
homes and communities. This nonprofit,
nonsectarian organization provides
innovative programs throughout all five
boroughs, including:
Intergenerational Home
Sharing Program
The only one of its kind in New York
City, the Home Sharing Program is a free
matching service that pairs “hosts,” who
have spare private space in their houses
or apartments, with responsible, compatible “guests” seeking affordable housing.
One of the participants must be age 60 or
older. Home sharing helps ease financial
burdens and provides companionship for
adults of all ages.
These programs offer free minor home
maintenance and repair services for the city’s
low- to moderate-income homeowners,
age 60 and over. Services include carpentry,
plumbing, masonry, electrical, guttercleaning, caulking, weather stripping and
home safety checks, as well as helping
seniors identify and correct home safety
hazards. For more, call 1-212-962-7655.
Enriched Housing
Program
This program provides apartment-based
living and support services for low-income, frail elderly age 65 and over who
can no longer function independently. The
program provides one hot meal daily, assistance with other meals and snacks, shopping, housekeeping, laundry, medications,
(continued on page 3)
Winter 2014
For NYC Seniors (continued from page 2)
and personal care to enable residents to
continue living on their own.
Today, seven Enriched Housing Programs
operate in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and
Queens. Each apartment building provides
a quality living environment with social
services and recreational activities. For
more, call 1-212-369-5523.
Spotlight My Social Security is a free service
provided by the U.S. Social Security
Administration. For more information on
how to register for an account and
access the benefit verification letter, visit
socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10540.pdf.
Free Transportation
Project CART provides free van services
for seniors, age 60 and over, who have
difficulty using public transportation.
From Manhattan’s Battery to E. 96th
Street and to W. 110th Street, CART’s five
vans, equipped with wheelchair lifts, take
seniors to and from medical appointments,
hospitals, senior center activities, and
entitlement appointments. This service
requires reservations in advance. For more,
call 1-212-956-0855.
For more information about the New York
Foundation for Senior Citizens’ services
call 1-212-962-7559, or visit nyfsc.org.
My Social Security
Need a benefit-verification letter for your
Social Security or Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) benefits? Don’t trek down
to the Social Security office. There’s an
easier way. Register for a My Social
Security account by visiting
socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
My Social Security allows you to download and print a benefit verification letter
from the comfort of your own home — no
office to visit, no lines to slow you down.
Or, if you don’t yet collect your benefits,
use My Social Security to view your annual
Social Security earnings.
My Social Security is a fast, convenient, and
secure way to access your Social Security
information. To register for an account,
you’ll need to input some personal information and provide answers to a few
questions that only you are likely to know.
You’ll also create a username and password, which you’ll use to log in to your
account. This will ensure that your private
information remains private.
n Prepare a “go-bag” (in case you need
to evacuate) that includes water,
nonperishable food, a radio, flashlight,
and any needed medications.
n If you have a car, make sure that the
gas tank is full.
n Lower the temperature on your
refrigerator/freezer to help keep food
fresh longer in the event of a power outage.
n Report power problems immediately
Ombudsman Program
The Ombudsman Program offers volunteers,
age 21 and older, the chance to help protect the rights of New York City’s nursing,
adult-home, and assisted living residents.
Volunteer Ombudsmen visit facilities, establishing trusting relationships with residents,
listening to concerns and, as appropriate,
negotiating with staff to resolve issues and
enhance residents’ quality of life. Volunteers
receive free training and must commit to
four hours minimum per week for a year.
Bilingual and especially Spanish, Chinese,
Korean, and Russian-speaking volunteers are
needed. For more, call 1-212-962-2720.
Page 3
by visiting conEd.com from any
web-enabled mobile device. If you have
an iPhone or Android device, you can
use the My conEdison app. Or, call us at
1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).
n Avoid downed power lines. Never
Heating Bill Relief
for Income-Eligible
Customers
attempt to handle one yourself.
For more tips, visit conEd.com/stormcentral.
If energy bills strain your household
budget, you may qualify for programs
that help cut energy use and costs.
1. HEAP (Home Energy Assistance
Program) helps with heating bills. Call
1-800-692-0557 or 1-914-995-5619 in
Westchester. New York City residents age
60 or older should call 311. If you are a
Con Edison customer and receive a HEAP
grant for another utility or oil company,
you may qualify for a reduced electric
charge. Fax a copy of your HEAP grant
award letter to 1-212-844-0110.
2. EMPOWER NY offers free home
improvements so you use less energy.
Call us at 1-866-729-7890 and have your
Con Edison account number available.
3. EnergyShare provides grants to help pay
heating bills. Call 1-800-75-CONED.
4. The Weatherization Referral and
Packaging Program (WRAP) provides
senior citizens with free services to lower
energy bills, such as insulation, new
doors and windows, and furnace and
roof repairs. Call 1-212-442-3055 or
1-914-813-6300 in Westchester.
5. The Weatherization Assistance
Program provides a wide variety of energy
efficiency services. Call 1-212-480-7644.
Be Prepared for
Storms
For many, the winter season is a time for
holiday cheer, taking stock of another year
gone by, and preparing for the new year
to come. It should also be a time when we
prepare for potential winter storms.
In the event of a storm, advanced notice
and timely information can make a huge
difference. Check the weather periodically
and keep a battery-powered radio handy
in case of power problems. If a storm is in
the forecast, take the following steps:
This winter, EnergyShare will continue
to provide income-eligible customers
with grants of up to $200 to help pay
outstanding Con Edison bills. EnergyShare
is Con Edison’s energy fund to assist
residential customers experiencing
financial difficulties and facing possible
termination of service.
Check your January edition of Customer
News for more details about the fund in
2014 and how you can apply.
EnergyShare is made possible by the
tax-deductible contributions of Con Edison
employees and customers, businesses, and
the general public. If you are able to lend
a hand to those in need, send donations to:
HeartShare Human Services of NY
P.O. Box 10240
New York, NY 10259-0240
Or, use our convenient Add-A-Dollar
feature — simply pay your bill plus exactly
one dollar more. The extra dollar will
automatically go to the fund. Or text
SHARE to 27722 to donate $5 instantly.
Con Edison matches contributions
dollar-for-dollar, and every fund dollar
is allocated strictly for grants to
customers in need. Your contribution
is fully tax-deductible.
Page 4
Spotlight How to Reach Us
Power Out? We’ll
Text You
Sign up for Con Edison’s text-message
notification service and we’ll text you
restoration updates if your power goes
out. You can even report an outage by text
message. And, if a son, daughter, trusted
friend, or relative wants to receive
notifications when your power goes out,
they can sign up also.
To register for text notifications, text the
word REG to OUTAGE (688243). You’ll
need your account number to complete
the process. Then, if you need to report an
outage, simply text OUT to OUTAGE.
Con Edison SMS alerts and notifications.
Message frequency depends on user.
Text STOP to OUTAGE (688243) to cancel.
Text HELP to OUTAGE for assistance.
Message and data rates may apply.
Participating carriers are ACG, ALLTEL/
AWC, AT&T Mobility, Boost, Cincinnati Bell,
Metro PCS, Rural CarrierGroups, Sprint,
Tier 2/3 Group, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular,
Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile.
If you have questions about your
Con Edison account or need to report an
emergency, here are three easy ways to
contact us:
Don’t Miss Out!
If we don’t have your email address, you’re
missing out on important storm-prep
emails, outage updates, and tips on how to
save energy and money.
Log into conEd.com today and update
your account information to include your
email address. Don’t worry, we won’t fill
your inbox with a bunch of frivolous messages. You’ll receive only useful information, like notices of routine and emergency
work that is being performed in your area.
If you choose, you can opt out of receiving
emails from us at any time. Con Edison
will never sell or share your email address
with an unauthorized third party.
You can also stay up to date by following us
on Twitter (@ConEdison) and visiting our
Facebook page, facebook.com/conedison.
1. Call Senior Direct at 1-800-404-9097
(available Monday through Friday
from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). With Senior
Direct, you always speak directly to a
Con Edison representative. Or you can
call 1-800-752-6633 and select the
self-service menu.
2. Find us quickly and easily at conEd.com.
Click my account to access your
account. Click customer central to
access information on energy savings,
customer news, special services, storm
and other emergencies, family
safety, or information in Spanish.
Customer central also contains
updated, important energy information,
Customer News, and brochures.
3. Write to us at Con Edison, Cooper
Station, P.O. Box 138, New York, NY
10276-0138. Always be sure to include
your account number, telephone
number, details about your inquiry, and
copies of appropriate documents, if
possible. (Do not mail bill payments to
this address.)
Phone Numbers Every Senior
Should Have Handy
Con Edison 4 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003-3598
Permit No. 9337
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NEW YORK, NY
Visit conEd.com/terms to review the
full terms and conditions. To review
Con Edison’s privacy policy, visit
coned.com/privacy.
Winter 2014
Meals on Wheels.................................................... 311
Social Security/Medicare......................1-800-772-1213
Senior Citizen Rent Increase
Exemption (SCRIE)............................................... 311
Senior Citizen Information..................................... 311
Human Resources
Administration Infoline........................1-877-472-8411
Supplemental Security Income............1-800-772-1213
American Red Cross.............................1-212-787-1000
Medicare Rights Center.......................1-800-333-4114
Remember to dial 311 to access nonemergency New York
City government services. This citizen initiative allows city
residents to obtain important nonemergency services
through one central, all-purpose phone number quickly
and effectively. The service is open 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, is answered by an operator, and is multilingual.
Use 311 to:
• find out if alternate-side-of-the-street parking is in effect;
• report loud noise, public nuisances, or a blocked driveway;
• find your neighborhood library and its operating hours;
• report a pothole;
• and much more!
In an emergency, you should still call 911.