Reporting by Thomas C. Zambito, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
Energy rebate checks of up to $200 begin to go out Sept. 21 to 8.2 million New Yorkers to ease the pain of rising gas and electric bills, state officials said.
Joint tax filers with incomes under $150,000 will get the full $200 energy rebate, while those making between $150,000 and $300,000 get $150. Single filers who made under $150,000 receive $100.
The one-time payouts come out of $1 billion in Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) funding included in the state budget adopted in May.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who’s up for reelection in November, cast the rebates as relief from soaring fuel prices spurred by President Trump’s war in Iran as well as federal tariffs that have added to the cost of living.
“Too many families are struggling with rising household energy bills and soaring gas prices at the pump — and that’s why we’re putting money directly back in New Yorkers’ pockets by sending energy rebate checks to millions of families as part of our affordability agenda,” Hochul said.
Her Republican challenger, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, has repeatedly slammed Hochul over afforability issues, asserting, if elected, he would provide New Yorkers with relief from the “endless tax and utility rate hikes” under the Democratic governor and Democrat-controlled Legislature.
Energy rebate offered amid NY affordability crisis
The first checks go out on Sept. 21 and continue through the end of December. To qualify, recipients must live full time in New York and file a state income tax return. Rebates will be tied to 2024 income levels.
At the end of April, nearly a half million New Yorkers were behind three months or more on their gas and electric bills, with over $2 billion owed.
Ratepayer advocates have spent the past year pressing state lawmakers for short and long-term solutions to an energy affordability crisis they say has low- and fixed-income New Yorkers choosing between paying for everyday necessities or utility bills.
In addition to rebate checks, the state this year adopted several regulatory reforms that will, among other things, prevent utilities from sticking ratepayers with the tab for lobbying, travel and political donations and link utility executives’ pay to energy affordability goals.
Thomas C. Zambito covers energy, transportation and economic growth for the USA TODAY Network’s New York State team. He’s won dozens of state and national writing awards from the Associated Press, Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Deadline Club and others during a decades-long career that’s included stops at the New York Daily News, The Star-Ledger of Newark and The Record of Hackensack. He can be reached at tzambito@lohud.com
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News.
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