Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Oct. 15 that 3 million people have received a POWER Energy Rebate check and that checks for another 5.2 million people will be sent over the coming weeks. No application is required, and the state Department of Taxation and Finance will mail them through December.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Oct. 15 that 3 million people have so far received a check under the state's POWER (Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate) program, and that checks for the remaining 5.2 million people will be mailed in the coming weeks. In all, 8.2 million people are eligible. There is no need to apply or sign up separately.
The amount varies by income. Joint filers with annual income under $150,000 receive $200, and joint filers with income between $150,000 and $300,000 receive $150. Single filers with annual income under $150,000 receive $100. The state did not specify amounts for other income brackets in its announcement.
The checks are mailed by the state Department of Taxation and Finance. Mailing began on Sept. 21 and will continue through December. A specific schedule for the remaining checks has not been made public. The rebate is funded by a one-time $1 billion allocation in the FY27 state budget, and the state described it as a measure to ease cost-of-living burdens such as tariffs and rising gasoline prices.
In the same announcement, the state also highlighted the Energy Affordability Program (EAP), which reduces electric and gas bills. About 1 million households currently receive its benefits, and an estimated 2.5 million eligible households are not enrolled. Since mid-September, 50,000 households have newly applied. To apply for the EAP, contact your local electric or gas utility; details are available at dps.ny.gov/energy-affordability-program.