2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES Page 1 2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES BRIEF New York voters age 50 and older do not believe their interests are being considered when utility rate increases are proposed and they don’t believe their elected officials are doing enough to help them with increasing utility costs. About half of New York voters age 50+ is extremely to very concerned about being able to pay their utility bills in the coming years. 50+ voters in Dutchess County and Long Island are more likely to be concerned about paying utility bills in the future compared to other surveyed areas of NY. Level of Concern about Ability to Pay Utility Bills in the Coming Years Capital Area (n=401) Erie County (n=400) Dutchess County (n=400) Monroe County (n=404) Onondaga County (n=406) Long Island (n=401) 39% 33% 47% 32% 37% 46% 21% 16% 27% 18% 20% 26% 18% 16% 20% 14% 17% 20% 27% 30% 27% 24% 26% 28% 15% 15% 12% 18% 16% 10% 19% 21% 13% 26% 21% 15% In a 2013 survey of NYC voters 50+, 48% were extremely (26%) to very (22%) concerned about paying utility bills in the coming years. Full survey results available at www.aarp.org/nyc50plus. Three-quarters of New York voters age 50+ say the cost of heating their homes this past winter put a strain on their household finances. Almost two in five New York voters age 50+ (38%) say the cost of heating their homes has been a major financial strain this past winter. In Dutchess County and Long Island, close to half of 50+ voters say the cost of heating their homes is a major financial strain, significantly more than any other NY area surveyed. In the Capital Area and New York City, over one-third of voters age 50+ reports a major financial strain due to heating costs. In Monroe, Erie and Onondaga counties, heating costs had a major financial impact on one-fourth of 50+ voters. 17% 14% 20% 23% 26% 49% 0% 20% 40% 60% Not at all concerned Not too concerned Somewhat concerned Very concerned Extremely concerned Extremely/Very (NET) NY Voters 50+ (n=407)
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2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES Page 1
2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES BRIEF
New York voters age 50 and older do not believe their interests are being considered when utility rate increases are proposed and they don’t believe their elected officials are doing
enough to help them with increasing utility costs.
About half of New York voters age 50+ is extremely to very concerned about being able to pay their utility bills in the coming years.
50+ voters in Dutchess County and Long Island are more likely to be concerned about paying utility bills in the future compared to other surveyed areas of NY.
Level of Concern about Ability to Pay Utility Bills in the Coming Years
Capital Area
(n=401)
Erie County (n=400)
Dutchess County (n=400)
Monroe County (n=404)
Onondaga County (n=406)
Long Island
(n=401)
39% 33% 47% 32% 37% 46%
21% 16% 27% 18% 20% 26%
18% 16% 20% 14% 17% 20%
27% 30% 27% 24% 26% 28%
15% 15% 12% 18% 16% 10%
19% 21% 13% 26% 21% 15%
In a 2013 survey of NYC voters 50+, 48% were extremely (26%) to very (22%) concerned about paying utility bills in the coming years. Full survey results available at www.aarp.org/nyc50plus.
Three-quarters of New York voters age 50+ say the cost of heating their homes this past winter
put a strain on their household finances.
Almost two in five New York voters age 50+ (38%) say the cost of heating their homes has been a major financial strain this past winter.
In Dutchess County and Long Island, close to half of 50+ voters say the cost of heating their homes is a major financial strain, significantly more than any other NY area surveyed.
In the Capital Area and New York City, over one-third of voters age 50+ reports a major financial strain due to heating costs.
In Monroe, Erie and Onondaga counties, heating costs had a major financial impact on one-fourth of 50+ voters.
2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES Page 2
Financial Impact of Cost of Heating on Household
Capital Area
(n=401)
Erie County (n=400)
Dutchess County (n=400)
Monroe County (n=404)
Onondaga County (n=406)
Long Island
(n=401) NYC
(n=400)
79% 72% 86% 69% 73% 83% 65%
34% 25% 48% 24% 27% 45% 35%
45% 47% 38% 45% 46% 38% 30%
20% 28% 13% 30% 26% 17% 30%
Over seven in ten New York voters age 50+ do not believe the interests of residential utility customers are represented and taken into consideration when utility rate increases are proposed.
Majorities of 50+ voters in all NY surveyed areas say that the interests of residential utility customers are not represented or considered when rate increases are proposed in Albany.
Are Residential Utility Customers’ Interests Represented in Rate Cases?
Capital Area
(n=401)
Erie County (n=400)
Dutchess County (n=400)
Monroe County (n=404)
Onondaga County (n=406)
Long Island
(n=401) NYC
(n=400)
Yes 18% 16% 15% 17% 18% 18% 19%
No 77% 76% 79% 72% 75% 77% 68%
Don't know 5% 7% 6% 10% 8% 5% 13%
23%
36%
38%
74%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
No strain at all
A minor strain
A major strain
Any Strain (NET)
NY Voters 50+ (n=407)
Yes 17%
No 72%
Don't know 10%
NY Voters 50+ (n=407)
2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES Page 3
Seven in ten New York voters age 50+ do not believe their elected officials are doing enough to help them when home energy costs increase.
Although a large majority of 50+ voters in all NY areas do not believe their elected officials are doing enough to help residents with rising utility costs, Dutchess County voters are the most likely to feel this way (81%).
Are Elected Officials Doing Enough to Help People when Home Energy Costs Increase?
Almost eight in ten New York voters age 50+ support the creation of an independent utility consumer advocate office to represent the interests of residential customers in utility rate cases.
Support for an independent utility consumer advocate office is strong among voters age 50 and older regardless of where they live.
Opinions on Creating an Independent Utility Consumer Advocate Office in NY
Capital Area
(n=401)
Erie County (n=400)
Dutchess County (n=400)
Monroe County (n=404)
Onondaga County (n=406)
Long Island
(n=401) NYC
(n=400)
84% 83% 81% 79% 81% 83% 78%
62% 62% 63% 50% 61% 64% 59%
22% 21% 18% 29% 20% 19% 19%
12% 12% 14% 16% 13% 15% 14%
5% 5% 6% 5% 4% 7% 6%
7% 7% 8% 11% 9% 8% 8%
0 1% 1% 2% 2% 1% 1%
Yes 20%
No 70% Don't
know 10%
NY Voters 50+ (n=407)
2%
6%
8%
15%
20%
59%
79%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Neither
Strongly oppose
Somewhat oppose
Total Oppose (NET)
Somewhat support
Strongly support
Total Support (NET)
NY Voters 50+ (n=407)
2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES Page 4
2014 New York State Telephone Survey of Registered Voters 50+ Annotation of Survey Responses
English Questionnaire, Landline Sample Only
NOTE: Below is an abbreviated survey annotation from a larger survey. The questions shown here relate only to the topic of utilities in addition to screening and demographic questions. A full questionnaire annotation will be
available in the future.
These data were collected by Universal Survey, Inc. on behalf of AARP through a telephone survey of New York State registered voters age 50 and older. There is a statewide sample of n=407 with oversamples in the following NY geographies for approximately n=400 each: the Capital Area (4 counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady); Erie County; Dutchess County; Monroe County; Onondaga County; Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties); and New York City (5 counties of Bronx, King, New York, Queens, Richmond). This survey is very similar to one conducted in NYC in June 2013. Repeated survey questions were not asked in NYC oversample interviews. Interviewing was conducted between March 19 and April 18, 2014. In New York City only, interviewing was conducted in English and Spanish. On a sample size of n=400 the margin of error is ±5.0 percent at the 95% confidence interval. Data have been weighted to reflect the 50+ voter population in each geography.
* Survey sections in blue highlight were skipped for NYC oversample only. INTRODUCTION Hello, this is ______ calling from _________, a national opinion research firm. We are not telemarketers and are not trying to sell you anything. We are calling New Yorkers to ask about their opinions on some issues that may affect them and their families and would like to include your views in our study. We would greatly appreciate your participation and all of your responses will be kept entirely confidential. SCREENER QS1. First, to ensure that we interview a wide variety of people, I have a few questions about you. Can you please tell me your age as of your last birthday? [CAPTURE ACTUAL AGE. DON’T READ LIST UNLESS NECESSARY. USE THE AGE GROUPS BELOW TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY RESPONDENTS WE ARE GETTING IN EACH GROUP.]
QS5. We want to ensure that we interview people from a wide variety of racial and ethnic groups. Can you please tell me if you are of Hispanic, Spanish, or Latino origin or descent?
2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES Page 8
MAIN QUESTIONNAIRE
Utilities [TRANSITION TEXT READ TO ALL] I’d like to ask you a few questions now about home utility services. [*NYC OVERSAMPLE SKIP QU-1 AND QU-2. GO TO QU-2.1] QU-1. (OLD QLV-1.) Thinking about where you live, do you rent or own your residence?
QU-2. (OLD QLV-4.) For some people, having affordable housing as they age is a concern. How concerned are you about your [INSERT A-C]? Would you say you are extremely concerned, very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned or not at all concerned? [RANDOMIZE AND ACCEPT ONE RESPONSE FOR EACH.]
a. Ability to pay monthly rent or mortgage payments in the coming years
QU-2.1 How much of a financial strain would you say the cost of heating has put on your household this winter? Would you say… [READ LIST. ACCEPT ONE RESPONSE.]
New York State
Capital Area
Erie County
Dutchess County
Monroe County
Onondaga County
Long Island NYC
Base: Total Respondents 407 401 400 400 404 406 401 400 A major strain 38% 34% 25% 48% 24% 27% 45% 35% A minor strain 36% 45% 47% 38% 45% 46% 38% 30% No strain at all 23% 20% 28% 13% 30% 26% 17% 30% Don't know 1% 0 - 1% 1% 0 0 3% Refused 1% 1% 1% 0 0 1% - 1%
2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES Page 10
QU-3. When rate increases are proposed for electricity and gas, do you believe the interests of residential utility
customers are sufficiently represented and taken into consideration?
QU-4 In 40 other states, a consumer advocate independently represents the interests of residential utility
consumers. New York State does not currently have an independent utility consumer advocate. Would you support or oppose legislation to establish such an office that would represent residential customers when utility companies request a rate increase before the New York State Public Service Commission in Albany?
D8. NEW Which of the following best describes your total annual household income before taxes in 2013? First, is your household income below or above $50,000?
New York State
Capital Area
Erie County
Dutchess County
Monroe County
Onondaga County
Long Island NYC
Base: Total Respondents 407 401 400 400 404 406 401 400 <$50K (NET) 38% 33% 34% 30% 35% 34% 20% 50% <$30K (SUB-NET) 22% 16% 15% 14% 16% 18% 7% 34% Less than $10,000 5% 2% 1% 2% 3% 4% 1% 12% At least $10,000 and < $20,000 7% 6% 5% 3% 4% 6% 2% 9% At least $20,000 and < $30,000 10% 8% 9% 8% 9% 8% 5% 13% $30K-<$50K (SUB-NET) 16% 17% 19% 17% 18% 17% 13% 16% At least $30,000 and < $40,000 9% 8% 8% 9% 7% 7% 6% 8% At least $40,000 and < $50,000 7% 9% 11% 8% 11% 10% 7% 9% $50K+ (NET) 36% 46% 44% 50% 45% 44% 55% 28% $50K-<$100K (SUB-NET) 25% 28% 35% 31% 30% 33% 28% 17% $50,000 but < $75,000 13% 16% 21% 17% 18% 21% 14% 8% $75,000 but < $100,000 11% 12% 14% 14% 12% 12% 14% 9% $100,000 or more 12% 18% 9% 18% 15% 12% 27% 12% Don't know/Refused 26% 21% 21% 20% 21% 21% 25% 21%
That was our last question for tonight. Thank you very much for taking the time to help us out. Have a great day/night!
2014 SURVEY OF NEW YORK STATE VOTERS AGE 50+: UTILITIES Page 13
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.
AARP Research For more information about this survey, please contact:
Angela Houghton, Senior Research Advisor 202.434.2261 or e-mail [email protected]