ConEd Help Center
Con Edison, Explained in Plain English
15 independent guides to the ConEd pages, programs, and fine print that are hardest to find — claims, bills, rates, payment help, and the programs that pay you back. Every guide links straight to the official Con Edison page for the task.
Who we are: Meltek is an independent Con Edison Smart Usage Partner — we are not Con Edison. These guides are educational; program amounts and deadlines are set by Con Edison and change over time. Facts were last verified on July 3, 2026.
Outages & Claims
Con Edison Food Spoilage Claims: The Complete Guide
Lost food or medication in a ConEd outage? How to file a spoilage claim, the $655 limit, the 30-day deadline, why storm outages are excluded, and what to do if you're denied.
ConEd Power Outage Guide: Check, Report, Track, and Recover
What to do in a Con Edison outage: check the outage map, report it (never assume ConEd knows), track restoration, find dry ice during heat emergencies, food safety windows, and claiming spoiled food.
Bills & Rates
Why Is My ConEd Bill So High? Every Reason, Explained (2026)
Delivery charges, 2026 rate increases, seasonal spikes, estimated reads — the real reasons Con Edison bills jump, how to read yours, and what you can actually do about it.
Con Edison Peak Hours and Off-Peak Hours in NYC: The Cheat Sheet
When electricity is cheapest with Con Edison, why ConEd's own pages list different peak windows, and the exact hours that matter for TOU rates, heat waves, and demand response.
ConEd Time-of-Use Rates: Are They Worth It?
Con Edison TOU rates reward night owls and EV owners and punish 9-to-5-at-home households. How the rates work, who saves, who loses, and how to decide with your own data.
ConEd Budget Billing: How It Works, the Pros, and the Catch
Con Edison's Budget Billing spreads your energy costs into equal monthly payments. How the projection works, the true-up catch, who it helps, and whether it saves money (it doesn't - here's what does).
Earn & Save
ConEd Smart Usage Rewards, Explained: How Much You Earn and How to Pick a Partner
Con Edison pays you to use less electricity during summer peak events — through a Smart Usage Partner. What the program is, who qualifies, how rewards work, and how to choose a partner.
The $85 ConEd Smart Thermostat Rebate: How to Claim It (and When Not To)
Con Edison pays $85 per enrolled smart thermostat (up to 12), plus $25 a year from year three. How to apply, which devices qualify, and the catch: it's mutually exclusive with Smart Usage Rewards.
ConEd Smart Meters: What They Do, Reading Your Data, and Opting Out
What Con Edison smart meters actually record, how to see your 15-minute usage data, why a smart meter is required for rewards programs, and what opting out involves.
SmartCharge New York: ConEd EV Charging Rewards, Explained
Con Edison pays EV drivers to charge off-peak through SmartCharge New York. How enrollment works, the bonus structure, rate options for home charging, and how it stacks with other programs.
How to Lower Your ConEd Bill: Every Program, Ranked by Real Savings
Every legitimate way to cut a Con Edison bill, ranked: demand response cash, the $85 thermostat rebate, weatherization incentives, assistance discounts, rate switches, and the tips that actually matter.
NYC Community Solar: Lower Your ConEd Bill Without a Roof
Community solar gives renters and apartment dwellers solar bill credits on their ConEd bill with no panels, no roof, and no installation. How it works, income-eligible extras, and how to vet providers.
Payment Help
Moving & Service
Scams & Safety
Get paid for using less energy at peak times
Meltek is a Smart Usage Partner in ConEd's official demand response program. Connect your ConEd account, cut back for a few hours during summer events, and earn cash — free to join, leave anytime.
Check your eligibility