10 Ways Orange and Rockland Customers Can Save Money on their Energy Bills

Are you a New York energy customer who uses Orange and Rockland as your electricity provider? If so then you might be interested in knowing that there are ways that you can save money on your energy bill. In fact, here are ten quick and easy ways to get you started:

1. Invest in an energy efficient air conditioner. O&R is currently offering $50 rebates to customers who buy new Energy Star air conditioners. More efficient AC systems will also reduce your summer energy bills.


2. Recycle your home’s extra freezer. O&R is also offering $50 rebates to customers who opt to get rid of the energy-draining second freezer stored in the basement or garage.


3. Get a more energy efficient furnace, water boiler and / or indirect water heater. O&R is offering 2011 rebates for all of these things as well as long as they meet certain conditions. This can actually save you hundreds of dollars this year!


4. Submit a meter reading. If O&R’s meter reader can’t gain access to your meter then they may send you an estimated bill that is higher than what you should be paying. However, you can submit your own meter reading through the O&R website to avoid this costly problem.


5. Report energy theft in your area. Sometimes people divert electricity, an illegal act that drives up energy costs for everyone. O&R has a simple energy theft form on their site as well as a hotline you can call to report energy theft and keep costs down for all customers.


6. Get a home energy audit. This allows you to find out where energy leaks are in your home so you can repair them and reduce expensive home energy waste. Did you know that most New Yorkers qualify for a free or cheap energy audit through the Green Door Project NY?


7. See if you qualify for HEAP. Some Orange and Rockland customers do qualify for reduced energy bills if they are low income in this area. Note that you may qualify for emergency HEAP assistance even if you don’t qualify for longer-term HEAP cost reductions.


8. Check if you qualify for the Orange County Fuel Fund. This is for Orange County customers that don’t qualify for HEAP but are struggling to pay their New York heating bills.


9. Switch to a lower cost energy supplier. This allows you to immediately lower your energy bills without any cost or disruption to your electricity service. Your energy will still be delivered by O&R but the per kWh rates will be cheaper.


10. Use PowerSwitch when you do switch energy suppliers. This is an O&R program that provides a one two 7% discount on the supply portion of your O&R bill for the first two billing periods after you switch energy suppliers. What a deal!