All your friends and relatives in NY and elsewhere paying utility bills. Can't do this on a big scale, but can you get some friends to use your card - and pay you back.
In NY ConEd payments: fee of $3.35 for up to $1500 payment.
Likewise National Grid: $2.25 fee for up to $600 payment.
arcadiapower.com - I haven't looked into this, but was just told that it allows you to pay utilites with cc without fees.
Phone/ cellphone bills.
Buying groups. There's some risk, so choose the group carefully and keep detailed records. orders, tracking #s, amount paid, amount to be paid back, etc.
Tuition. For someone in your family, or aquaintance who tends to pay everything in cash/ checks.