New York energy discount program: who qualifies for up to $500 a year
About 2.5 million New York households qualify for monthly utility discounts but are not enrolled. Here are the income limits for Con Ed and National Grid customers.
Gov. Kathy Hochul urged New Yorkers on Wednesday to enroll in the state’s Energy Affordability Program, which lowers monthly utility bills for eligible households. She made the pitch during a stop at the Flatbush YMCA in Brooklyn.
Nearly 1 million households already get the discount, but the state estimates about 2.5 million more qualify and have not signed up. According to the state, enrolled households typically cut their bills by hundreds of dollars annually, and savings for some can reach $500.
Who qualifies for the Energy Affordability Program in NYC
Eligibility widened in January. A household can now qualify with income under the state median. In New York City, Westchester and Nassau, the cutoff is the area median instead. That works out to $113,400 for a single person and $162,000 for a family of four among customers of Con Edison and National Grid in the city.
The state is starting a wider enrollment campaign with digital ads, mail, email and text messages. Community groups, government agencies and utility companies will also help reach eligible households.
Separate one-time energy rebate checks start Sept. 21
The monthly discounts are a different program from the state’s one-time rebate checks, worth a combined $1 billion. The state says those checks will start going out Sept. 21 to 8.2 million eligible households.
The checks have become an issue in the race for governor. Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, on Tuesday called them an “election-year gimmick” and argued that a single payment would not go far against climbing electric and gas bills. Hochul responded that the rebates came out of spring talks with the Legislature and became law in May. After that, she said, state officials needed time to sort out which households were eligible.
“I won’t make New Yorkers wait for relief,” Hochul said.
Quick answers
Who qualifies for the Energy Affordability Program in NYC?
Households under the area median income. In the city, Con Edison and National Grid customers qualify with income up to $113,400 for one person or $162,000 for a family of four.
How much can households save?
The state estimates savings of hundreds of dollars a year, reaching as much as $500 for some households.
When do the one-time energy rebate checks go out?
The state says rebate checks totaling $1 billion will start going to 8.2 million eligible households on Sept. 21.
