Con Edison offers payment plans if you fall behind on your electric or gas bill

Con Edison (Con Ed) is the utility company that supplies electricity and natural gas to most of New York City and some areas north of the city. If your bill grows faster than you can pay it, Con Ed has programs that let you spread what you owe across several months instead of paying it all at once. The company does not require you to prove hardship — you can ask for a plan whenever you want to avoid a service shutoff.

The most common option is a budget billing plan, which smooths out your monthly charges so they stay roughly the same year-round instead of spiking in winter or summer. There is also a deferred payment plan for people who have already fallen behind. Both are free to set up, and neither requires a deposit or credit check.

Key Takeaways

  • Con Ed offers budget billing to spread your costs evenly across twelve months, which helps if your bill jumps seasonally.
  • If you already owe money, a deferred payment plan lets you pay the arrears in installments while staying current on new charges.
  • You can request a plan by phone, online, or in person at a Con Ed payment office without proving financial hardship.
  • Con Ed will not shut off your service while you are on an active payment plan, as long as you make your scheduled payments on time.
  • If you cannot afford even a payment plan, Con Ed also runs a bill information program for households below certain income thresholds.

Budget billing: evening out your monthly charges

Budget billing calculates your average monthly cost based on your usage over the past year, then charges you that same amount each month. In winter, when heating drives bills up, you pay less than you actually owe. In summer, when usage drops, you pay more. By the end of the year, the difference evens out.

This plan works best if your income is steady but your bill swings wildly with the seasons. You still get a true-up bill once a year (usually in the fall) that shows whether you owe money or have a credit. If you have a credit, Con Ed can roll it forward to the next year's budget, explore it to your next bill, or send you a check — you choose.

Budget billing does not reduce what you owe overall. It just redistributes it across the year so no single month feels impossible to pay. If you use significantly more or less gas or electricity than you did the previous year, Con Ed recalculates your budget amount to match.

Deferred payment plans: spreading arrears over time

A deferred payment plan is for people who have already fallen behind. Con Ed will let you pay what you owe in installments — usually over three to twelve months, depending on how much you owe and what you can afford. While you are on the plan, you must also stay current on your new monthly bills. If you fall behind on either the installment payment or the new bill, the plan can be cancelled and shutoff proceedings can resume.

The number of months you get depends on the total amount owed. Smaller arrears might be spread over three months; larger ones over six to twelve. Con Ed works with you to set a payment amount that fits your budget, but the company has limits on how long it will stretch a debt.

One important detail: if you miss even one payment on the plan, Con Ed may treat it as a breach and move toward shutoff. Call when ready if you cannot make a payment — the company sometimes allows one missed payment if you catch up within a set period, but this is not may provide.

How to request a payment plan

You can set up a plan three ways: by phone at 1-800-752-6633, online through your Con Ed account, or in person at a Con Ed payment office in your area. The phone line is usually fastest if you want to speak to someone who can answer questions about what payment amount works for your situation.

Have your account number ready — you can find it on your bill. If you are setting up a deferred plan for arrears, also have a sense of what you can afford to pay each month. Con Ed will ask what amount works for you and will try to accommodate it, but if the amount is too small relative to what you owe, the company may offer a shorter timeframe instead.

Once the plan is approved, you will receive a confirmation letter in the mail with the payment amount, due date, and the number of months the plan will run. Set a reminder for the due date each month — missing a payment can end the plan.

What happens if you cannot afford a payment plan

Con Ed runs a separate program called LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy information Program) and EAAF (Emergency information for the Aged and Infirm) for households with income below certain thresholds. These programs provide grants — money you do not have to repay — to help pay your bill. LIHEAP is available to households at or below 60% of the state median income; EAAF is for people 60 and older or disabled.

To learn about you might be may be able to access for these programs, contact the Community Action Partnership in your county or call 211 (a free helpline that connects you to local resources). They can tell you the current income limits and help you understand what documents you would need to gather.

These programs do not cover your entire bill in most cases, but they can reduce what you owe enough to make a payment plan manageable. Some also help with arrears from previous years.

Service shutoff protection while on a plan

Once you are on an active payment plan, Con Ed will not shut off your service for non-payment as long as you make your scheduled payments. This protection lasts for the entire length of the plan. However, Con Ed can still shut you off if you miss a payment on the plan itself, or if you fail to pay a new bill that comes due while the plan is running.

If you receive a shutoff notice while on a plan, call Con Ed right away. Sometimes the notice is sent before the system updates to reflect your new plan, and a quick call can clear it up. If you genuinely missed a payment, explain your situation — the company sometimes allows a grace period if you can pay within a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my payment plan amount if my situation changes?

Yes. Call Con Ed and ask to modify your plan. If your income dropped and you cannot afford the current payment, the company can extend the timeline or lower the monthly amount. If your situation improved, you can pay faster or switch to a different plan type.

What if I pay off my arrears early?

You can pay off a deferred plan at any time without penalty. Con Ed will not charge you extra for paying early. Once the arrears are paid, you can cancel the plan and go back to regular monthly billing, or stay on it if you want the structure.

Does a payment plan hurt my credit?

A payment plan itself does not appear on your credit report. However, if you fell behind before setting up the plan, that late payment may already be reported. Once you are on the plan and making payments on time, you are rebuilding your payment history with Con Ed.

Can I get a payment plan if I have a shutoff notice already filed?

Yes. Even if Con Ed has filed for shutoff, you can still request a payment plan. Call when ready — the sooner you set one up, the sooner the shutoff process can be halted. Bring your account number and be ready to discuss what you can pay each month.

What if I live in an apartment and my landlord pays the Con Ed bill?

If your landlord is the account holder, they would need to set up the plan. However, if you pay Con Ed directly (your name is on the account), you can set up a plan on your own. Check your bill to see whose name appears as the account holder.