Heat Advisory on Long Island. What Homeowners and Renters Should Know Right Now
*Long Island is under a heat advisory this week, and there are a few things worth knowing before you crank the AC or head out the door.*
This week brought near 100 degree heat index readings and pop up rain chances across Nassau and Suffolk. Riverhead opened its senior center as a cooling center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and town beaches stayed open later into the evening for anyone who needed relief. If you rent or own on the East End, check your town website. Most townships open similar spaces during heat events.
Keep the house cool without wrecking your bill
PSEG Long Island says high temperatures can drive up energy use and lead to higher electric bills. Their main tip is simple. Set thermostats or window units to 78 degrees rather than trying to chase a colder number. Running appliances like dishwashers and pool pumps in the morning or evening instead of peak afternoon hours also helps keep demand off the grid when it is stressed the most.
Ceiling fans and closed blinds do real work too. Closing blinds and window coverings facing the sun keeps heat from building up in the first place, and a fan moving air costs a lot less than a compressor running nonstop. If you are away for the day, do not cool an empty house. A smart or programmable thermostat set higher while you are out can save real money over a season.
PSEG also offers rebates on smart thermostats and on high efficiency heat pumps that help in both hot and cold months, which is worth a look if your system is getting old anyway.
A new protection you may not know about
Here is something that changed this year and matters if money is tight. New York's Public Service Commission approved a statewide policy in March 2026 that protects residential customers from having electric or water service shut off for non payment during extreme heat events. That applies to the state's largest investor owned utilities. Regulators also worked with utilities to identify heat island locations across the state, where residents get additional protections during these events.
If you or someone in your household has a health condition made worse by heat, the state's Essential Plan Cooling Program has been offering free air conditioners to eligible members through the end of August. There is also a broader Home Energy Assistance Program cooling benefit that is separate from the Essential Plan option, so it is worth checking eligibility for either one if cooling costs are a strain this summer.
A few basics worth repeating
Stay hydrated, skip the caffeine and alcohol on the worst days, and check on neighbors who might not have air conditioning. PSEG's own guidance says to avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest hours, generally late morning through mid afternoon. If your power does go out during a heat event, you can report it through the PSEG app or by texting OUT to PSEGLI.
None of this is complicated, but it adds up over a long summer. A house that holds its cool efficiently is also a house that shows well if you ever decide to sell.
If you have a question about how your home is holding up this season or want to know what it is worth right now, drop it at /askmuds or check /my-home-value/.