landlord tenant problems

[Joe Bell]

NYC. what happens if you can not afford to pay the utilities bills because basement tenants are not paying rent.

we have a 2 story house + basement. everyone has moved out except the basement tenants. can i simply tell them that it is there responsibility to pay there own utilities now? what happens if i really cannot afford to pay the utilities(on account of no rent) and utility company shuts off power? i know that i cannot shut the power off to get them out of there legally, but, if con Edison shuts off the power due to lack of payment i wont be legally in trouble, correct?