PSEG Long Island, Other Utilities Allocate $250M In Bill Credits: NYS

NEW YORK — PSEG Long Island and other municipal utilities have allocated funds under Gov. Kathy Hochul to provide a one-time $567 million credit in August to low-income New Yorkers who struggled to pay their utility bills during the height of the pandemic through May 1 via the Energy Affordability Program.

Low-income New Yorkers who continue to struggle with paying their gas and electric bills can sign up for EAP again for more relief for next year, but customers have until Dec. 31 to enroll, according to Hochul’s Office.

The state Public Service Commission leveraged $250 million from the 2023 budget to require utilities to provide the one-time credit to customers in EAP and PSEG Long Island and municipal utilities have allocated $10.4 million toward that, said Hochul’s Office.

"To address this growing problem, the PSC has approved measures to strengthen and improve utility energy affordability programs to reduce consumer energy burden and address low-income customer needs,” Public Service Commission Chair Rory M. Christian said in a statement.

An estimated $100 million comes from the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's Emergency Rental Assistance Program and utility shareholders have provided more than $36 million in contributions to benefit ratepayers. The bill credit program is estimated to cost the major utility ratepayers $181 million after they have allocated their share of the budget appropriation, and customer credits and shareholder contributions, which will help reduce the program costs, the governor’s office added.

Since March 2020, the number of low-income people who have fallen behind more than 60 days on paying their utility bills has grown to more than 327,000. The rollout for the program is Monday, according to the governor’s office.

"No New Yorker should have their lights and air conditioning shut off as a result of financial problems caused by the pandemic,” Hochul said in a statement. The funds “will be critical to helping vulnerable New Yorkers maintain their utility services, especially during these hot summer months."

Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal agrees.

"Loss of employment during the Covid-19 pandemic followed by growing inflation has caused many families across New York State to feel financially stressed," Rosenthal said in a statement. "During this year's budget, we prioritized the allocation of hundreds of millions in funding to help families pay off utility arrears and get back on their feet. These payments will soon be out the door and I'm pleased that families will finally begin to feel some relief in the coming weeks."

More than 327,000 low-income households will see their utility arrears reduced or eliminated, lifting a major financial burden, added Rosenthal.

Brooklyn state Sen. Roxanne Persaud shares Rosenthal's sentiments.

"Many of New York's energy-burdened ratepayers will breathe a sigh of relief when their utility accounts reflect this much-anticipated assistance," Persaud said via statement. "I'm glad that the $250 million we included in this year's budget was able to leverage additional relief for consumers facing shut-offs and collections."