Across the nation and in New York, the cost of household energy has increased in recent decades due to rising utility rates and greater reliance on energy to carry out daily functions involving cooling, heating, lighting, refrigeration, and the use of electronic devices.1 Just last July, New York State’s Public Service Commission approved rate hikes for Con Edison over the next few years that should increase the average customer’s gas and electricity Con Edison bill by $65 per month by 2025.