New York’s Energy Affordability Program received 21,586 new household applications between September 15 and September 28, 2026, the first two weeks of a statewide enrollment drive organized by the Department of Public Service. The program lowers monthly electric and gas bills for households below median income ahead of the winter heating season.
Key Takeaways
- Weekly applications fell from 12,694 in the week ending September 21 to 8,892 in the week ending September 28.
- The state estimates up to 2.5 million additional households qualify following an eligibility expansion that took effect January 13, 2026.
- The program sets a target of keeping typical electric and natural gas bills at or below six percent of household income.
- The program website, ny.gov/EAP, went from 79 visits on September 1 to a peak of 40,000 on September 16.
- Utilities automatically place enrolled households on budget billing, and customers can opt out at any time by contacting their utility.
- In-person enrollment events continue through the fall, including an October 9 session at LI Cares in Lindenhurst.
Enrollment Numbers Show Early Demand and a Second-Week Slowdown
The Energy Affordability Program’s first two weeks of targeted outreach produced a clear surge, followed by a cooling trend. Applications dropped roughly 30 percent from the first week to the second. That pattern is common in benefit campaigns, where the households already aware of a program respond first and harder-to-reach residents take longer.
The gap between applicants and eligible households is the more telling figure. The state estimates up to 2.5 million more New York households could enroll. Measured against that pool, the 21,586 applications represent less than one percent of potential participants. The Department of Public Service says the drive has reached more than one million New Yorkers, local governments, and community organizations through digital ads, direct mail, email, text messages, and in-person events. Converting that awareness into completed applications is the work still ahead.
Applications are also not approvals. The 21,586 figure counts households that applied, not households already receiving a discount on their bills.
Eligibility Now Reaches Households Below Median Income
The Energy Affordability Program once served a narrower group of low-income customers. Since January 13, 2026, it has covered all New York households below state median income. Customers served by Con Edison, National Grid NYC, or National Grid Long Island are measured against area median income instead. That distinction matters in New York City and on Long Island, where higher local incomes push the qualifying threshold upward.
The expansion reaches into income brackets that have not traditionally qualified for utility assistance. That includes working households whose earnings sit above traditional aid cutoffs but whose energy bills still consume a heavy share of monthly income. The Department of Public Service directs households that do not receive public assistance to a separate online application at nyeeap.com, where qualifying income thresholds are posted.
Public Assistance Participants May Already Qualify
Households that receive a Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefit or Temporary Assistance may be enrolled automatically. Participants in SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Lifeline, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or a Veterans Disability or Survivors Pension also qualify. Because of federal restrictions, however, those households must self-enroll with proof of eligibility. That step is easy to miss, so many eligible residents may assume they are covered when they are not.
Monthly Discounts Appear Directly on Utility Bills
The Energy Affordability Program applies a monthly discount directly on electric and gas bills, so there is no rebate check to wait for. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance puts potential savings at up to $500 a year.
Automatic enrollment in budget billing spreads energy costs more evenly across the year. That can soften the January and February spikes that hit households hardest. Customers who prefer to pay actual monthly usage can opt out through their utility.
The program sits alongside a broader regulatory effort. In September 2026, the Public Service Commission opened a proceeding to create an Energy Affordability Index with a six percent target, split evenly between electric and gas. If a utility exceeds that target, the Commission may assign an independent Affordability Monitor to review its operations and spending.
Service Area Data Shows Where Applications Are Concentrated
Application data by utility territory shows where demand is concentrated. Customers in the Con Edison service area filed 8,460 applications, and National Grid territories logged 7,098. Together, those two account for about 72 percent of the total.
Upstate and Hudson Valley territories posted smaller counts:
- NYSEG: 1,939
- Rochester Gas and Electric: 1,196
- National Fuel: 801
- Central Hudson: 789
- PSEG Long Island: 698
- Orange and Rockland: 605
The concentration in New York City reflects population, but it also tracks with housing costs. For households already working out what it takes to live comfortably in New York City, a monthly utility discount frees up money for rent and other fixed costs.
Fall Enrollment Events Continue Before Winter Bills Arrive
The Energy Affordability Program enrollment drive will continue online and at in-person tabling events throughout the fall. The Department of Public Service listed sessions on October 1 at the Morris Older Adult Center in the Bronx and the Nosh Food Pantry in Glen Cove. Later sessions include October 2 at a Catholic Charities food pantry in Franklinville and October 9 at LI Cares in Lindenhurst.
For renters and homeowners, timing matters more than anything else. Discounts apply to monthly bills, so households that enroll in October could see relief before heating demand peaks. Households that wait until a high January bill arrives will have already missed savings.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for official guidance from the New York State Department of Public Service, utility providers, or other government agencies. Eligibility requirements, enrollment procedures, savings amounts, and program rules may change. Readers should verify their eligibility and current program details through official New York State and utility resources before applying or making decisions about their household energy costs.
FAQs
Who is eligible for New York’s Energy Affordability Program?
Households below state median income are eligible. Customers of Con Edison, National Grid NYC, and National Grid Long Island are measured against area median income instead. Participants in programs such as HEAP, SNAP, Medicaid, and SSI also qualify.
How much can a household save through the Energy Affordability Program?
State officials estimate savings of up to $500 a year. The discount is designed to keep typical electric and gas bills at or below six percent of household income.
Are some households enrolled automatically?
Yes. Households receiving HEAP or Temporary Assistance may be enrolled automatically. Participants in SNAP, Medicaid, and several other programs must self-enroll with proof of eligibility because of federal restrictions.
How do New Yorkers apply for the Energy Affordability Program?
Households can check eligibility and apply through ny.gov/EAP or contact their utility directly. Households that do not receive public assistance can apply online through nyeeap.com.
Does enrolling change how utility bills are paid?
Enrolled customers are automatically placed on budget billing, which spreads costs evenly across the year. Customers can opt out at any time by contacting their utility.
