How to Lower Your ConEd Bill: Every Program, Ranked by Real Savings
Updated July 3, 2026 · Independent guide by Meltek — not Con Edison
ConEd's own savings pages list dozens of tips without telling you which ones matter. Here is the honest ranking — programs and changes ordered by realistic impact for a typical NYC household, with one distinction up front: most items below reduce what you spend; the first one pays you cash.
The ranked list
| Move | Typical value | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Enroll in Smart Usage Rewards (demand response) | Cash payments across the summer event season | Low — enroll once, respond to a handful of events |
| 2. Attack cooling costs (settings, fans, sealing) | AC is the biggest summer load; every degree counts | Low |
| 3. Weatherization incentives | ConEd advertises up to $4,000 toward making homes weather-ready | Medium — assessment and installation |
| 4. Energy Affordability Program (if benefits-eligible) | Monthly discount, cited up to $173/month | Low — enrollment |
| 5. $85 smart thermostat rebate (or Smart Usage Rewards — not both) | One-time $85 plus $25/yr from year three | Low |
| 6. Hunt the always-on load with smart meter data | Old refrigerators and standby loads add up all year | Low |
| 7. Time-of-Use or EV rates (only if your schedule fits) | Real savings for overnight-heavy usage; a penalty otherwise | Medium — model it first |
| 8. Community solar subscription | Percentage discount via bill credits, no roof needed | Low — vet the provider |
| 9. Efficient appliance and marketplace rebates | Discounted thermostats, appliance incentives | Varies |
| 10. ESCO switching | Often negative — many pay more than the utility rate | Caution |
Why demand response tops the list
Everything else on the list reduces spending; Smart Usage Rewards is the one program where money flows the other way. It requires no equipment, no rate change, and no behavior change outside of a handful of summer event hours — and it stacks with nearly every other item here (the $85 thermostat program being the one exception).
The honest caveat: payouts scale with your usage and participation. A studio with one window unit earns less than a house with central air — but the effort is near zero either way.
The tips that are mostly noise
Unplugging phone chargers, obsessing over LED bulbs you already have, and running half-full dishwashers at 3 a.m. on the standard rate (where hours do not change the price) — these make lists because they are easy to write, not because they move bills. Focus on cooling, heating, the always-on baseline, and the programs above; ignore the rest without guilt.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the single most effective way to lower a ConEd bill?
- For most households: reduce cooling costs (the largest controllable load) and enroll in Smart Usage Rewards so summer reductions also generate cash. Structural fixes like weatherization compound from there.
- Are ConEd energy-saving tips actually worth following?
- The big-load ones, yes (cooling, heating, refrigeration). Micro-tips like unplugging chargers have negligible impact. Prioritize programs with dollar amounts attached.
- Does switching electricity suppliers (ESCOs) save money?
- Frequently not — state reviews have found many ESCO customers paying more than the utility supply rate. If you explore it, compare the exact per-kWh offer against your bill's supply line and watch for teaser rates.
- Which savings programs can I combine?
- Most of them: assistance discounts, weatherization, rebates, community solar, and Smart Usage Rewards all stack. The one exclusion: the $85 Smart Thermostat program cannot be combined with Smart Usage Rewards.
Official Con Edison pages for this topic
Meltek is an independent Con Edison Smart Usage Partner, not Con Edison. Program details, amounts, and deadlines are set by Con Edison and change over time — always confirm on the official pages above.
Turn peak hours into payouts
Meltek pays ConEd customers cash for reducing electricity use during summer demand response events. Free to join with your ConEd account — no devices required, leave anytime.
See if your home qualifies