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That's what happens when every call gets answered, every lead gets followed up, and every membership gets worked, automatically.
Podium's AI Operating System does all of it, in one place, built specifically for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and garage door companies.
Your ConEd bill is already climbing. It's going to get worse. The hottest months of a New York summer are still ahead, and window units, fans, and refrigerators running all day add up fast. A two-bedroom in Queens can hit $250–$300 in a rough August. A Brooklyn apartment without central air can look similar.
What most New Yorkers don't know: there are three programs — run by the city, the state, and Con Edison itself — specifically designed to reduce or eliminate those bills for qualifying households. The income limits are higher than most people assume. And a free AI tool can walk you through eligibility and help you apply in less time than it takes to sit on hold with ConEd.
Here's what exists, followed by exactly how to use AI to navigate it today.
The Three Programs That Actually Pay
1. ConEd Energy Affordability Program (EAP)
This is the most underused program for working- and moderate-income New Yorkers. If you're a ConEd residential electric customer in NYC and your household income falls below about 80 percent of the New York State median income — roughly $50,000 for a single adult, around $65,000 for a household of two, and higher for larger families — you may qualify for a discount of approximately 30 percent on your monthly electric bill.
That's not a one-time check. That's off every bill, every month.
ConEd will not proactively tell you this program exists. You have to apply. Go to ConEd.com and search "Energy Affordability Program," or call 1-800-752-6633. You'll need proof of income — a recent pay stub or your most recent tax return — and the application takes about 15 minutes.
The math: at $200/month average summer bills, a 30 percent discount is $60 back each month. Over three months, that's $180. For free.
2. HEAP Cooling Benefit
The Home Energy Assistance Program is a federal program administered in New York City through the Department of Social Services. Most people know the winter version, which helps pay heating bills. Fewer people know there's a cooling component that runs through the summer and specifically targets electricity costs.
The income threshold for HEAP is lower than ConEd EAP — roughly 60 percent of state median income, which works out to approximately $35,000–$42,000 for a single adult and up to $67,000 for a household of four. If you're near that range, apply anyway. Programs like this often have eligibility provisions for households with seniors or people with disabilities that can extend the limits.
Apply online through NYC HRA at HRA.nyc.gov using the ACCESS HRA portal, in person at any HRA benefits center, or by calling 718-557-1399. Summer applications compete for limited funding, so timing matters — earlier is better.
3. NYSERDA EmPower New York
If your income falls below about 80 percent of the state median income — which covers a large portion of NYC renters and moderate-income homeowners — NYSERDA can send a contractor to your home and provide free energy efficiency upgrades at no cost to you. That can include LED lighting, weatherization and sealing, insulation improvements, and for the lowest-income qualifying households, free air conditioning units.
This one takes longer than filling out a form online. There's a home assessment involved and some scheduling lag. But the upgrades are permanent, and a properly weatherized NYC apartment can cut your energy costs by 20–30 percent year-round — not just this summer.
Call 1-866-697-3732 or visit nyserda.ny.gov to start the process.
Why Most Eligible New Yorkers Never Apply
Three reasons, consistently: they assume they make too much, they've never heard the program exists, or they started the application process, hit a wall of bureaucratic language, and gave up.
The ConEd EAP site is functional but not exactly built for user experience. The HRA ACCESS portal requires account creation and has a learning curve. NYSERDA requires a phone call, some patience, and a willingness to schedule a home visit.
This is exactly where a free AI tool earns its keep.
How to Use AI to Navigate This in 20 Minutes
Open ChatGPT at chat.openai.com or Claude at claude.ai — both are free with no account required for basic use. Then try one of these prompts:
"I'm a NYC resident. My household has [X] people and our total annual income is approximately $[X]. Can you tell me which New York energy assistance programs I likely qualify for, and what the steps are to apply for each one?"
The AI will walk you through eligibility, rank the programs by likelihood and effort level, and give you a checklist for each application — including what documents to gather before you start.
If you already applied for HEAP or another program and got denied:
"I applied for [program name] in New York City and was denied. The reason given was [X]. Help me write a formal appeal letter explaining my situation and requesting reconsideration."
That appeal letter — clear, specific, citing the relevant regulatory process — would cost $250–$400 from a benefits navigator. The AI writes it in two minutes.
One more use case worth knowing: if you're already a ConEd customer, ask the AI to help you understand your current rate code. ConEd has multiple residential rate structures, and some customers end up on plans that don't match their actual usage patterns. Describe your bill to ChatGPT and ask it to explain your rate code and whether a different plan might be cheaper. This is free to explore and takes five minutes.
What to Do Right Now
Pick one action based on your situation:
**Income under ~$50k single / ~$88k household of four:** Go to ConEd.com, search "Energy Affordability Program," and start the application. Have a recent pay stub nearby.
**Income under ~$42k single / ~$67k household of four:** Go to HRA.nyc.gov, click ACCESS HRA, and search for the HEAP cooling benefit. Or call 718-557-1399.
**Any income level, willing to have someone come assess your apartment:** Call NYSERDA at 1-866-697-3732 and ask about EmPower New York eligibility. Worst case, they tell you that you don't qualify.
**Not sure where you stand:** Open ChatGPT or Claude, use the prompt above, and let the AI tell you which programs apply to your situation before you spend 45 minutes on the wrong website.
Your ConEd bill this August is not a fixed number. These programs exist because the city and state know summer electricity costs hit low- and moderate-income households the hardest. The money is there. The applications are online. The AI does the research for free.
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