New York State announced on the 15th that 2.5 million households are eligible for the Energy Affordability Program (EAP), which cuts electric and gas bills every month, but have not applied. The state launched an enrollment outreach campaign the same day. Eligibility was expanded in January to households at or below the median income, so a four-person household in New York City qualifies with annual income of up to $162,000.
New York State announced on Sept. 15 that 2.5 million households are eligible for the Energy Affordability Program (EAP), which cuts electric and gas bills every month, but have not applied. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the same day a statewide outreach campaign to find those households and enroll them. About 1 million households are currently enrolled, and the state estimates that roughly half of all households qualify.
The size of the discount depends on household income and amounts to several hundred dollars a year. The governor's office said households can save up to $500 a year. By design, the discount is set so that a household's bill does not exceed 6% of its income. Applications are submitted online at ny.gov/EAP.
First, Check Whether You Already Receive It
Households that receive the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or Temporary Assistance, both run by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), automatically receive the EAP discount without applying separately. By contrast, households enrolled in programs such as SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans' disability and survivors' pensions, Lifeline phone discounts, federal public housing assistance, TANF, Safety Net and Head Start are eligible but are not enrolled automatically because of privacy rules. These households must apply online themselves.
Since January, households not in any of these programs have also qualified if their income is at or below the state median income. In New York City and in Westchester and Nassau counties, the local median income is the benchmark. In the Con Edison and National Grid New York City service areas, the limits are $113,400 for a one-person household, $129,600 for two people, $145,800 for three people and $162,000 for four people.
Over the coming months, the state Department of Public Service (DPS) plans to combine online ads with mailings, emails and text messages, and to have social service agencies cross-check applicants to other benefit programs against EAP eligibility. It will also hold in-person enrollment events with community organizations. The discount is separate from the one-time energy rebate checks of up to $200 that will be mailed starting Sept. 21, and it is applied to bills every month.