More than 327,000 low-income New York State residents will be getting some extra help to pay off their mounting utility bills since the start of the pandemic.
Those facing significant financial hardships with bills more than 60 days behind for gas and electric payments have remained at all-time, unprecedented levels. The bill credits begin on Aug. 1 and should appear on the next billing cycle for qualifying customers. No application is necessary.
The $100 million will come from the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Another $250 million comes from a budget appropriation in the state budget that directs utilities to assist and eliminate pandemic-related past due utility bills for low-income households.
Major utility ratepayers will pay about $181 million into the program. Utility shareholders have donated more than $36 million to benefit the low-income utility customers in the state.