More than 21,000 New York households applied for utility-bill discounts in the first two weeks of a state enrollment push, including 1,939 applications in NYSEG's service area and 1,196 in RG&E's. The figures count applications, not approvals or discounts already received.
The governor's office reported 21,586 applications through the weeks ending Sept. 21 and Sept. 28. NYSEG and RG&E together accounted for 3,135 of them, roughly 15% of the statewide total. Their service territories extend beyond the Finger Lakes, so the release does not show how many applicants live in any one local county.
The first week brought 12,694 applications statewide, followed by 8,892 the next week. The largest totals were 8,460 in Con Edison's area and 7,098 in National Grid's. The state said the outreach campaign began Sept. 15 and reached more than 1 million people, local governments and organizations through digital and in-person efforts.
The Energy Affordability Program applies a monthly discount directly to eligible electric and natural gas bills. In January, the state expanded income eligibility to households below the state median income in most utility territories, with area-median thresholds for certain downstate utilities. Officials estimate that up to 2.5 million more households may qualify under the expanded rules; that figure is an eligibility estimate, not a count of new enrollees.
According to the Department of Public Service's program guide, households receiving Home Energy Assistance Program benefits qualify for discounts. Other public-assistance programs, including SNAP, Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income, can also establish eligibility. Some households are enrolled automatically, but participants in several of those other programs must apply and document eligibility.
People who do not receive public assistance may still qualify based on income. The department directs customers to their utility's application process and income limits, and says customers who think they qualify but are not enrolled should contact their utility. The state describes a goal of holding typical electric and gas costs for eligible customers at or below 6% of household income; an application alone does not establish a household's actual savings.
The governor's office said outreach will continue through the fall. It did not provide approval rates, the number of households newly receiving discounts, county-level results or measured bill savings from the two-week drive.
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