Energy Affordability Program

The PSC has a long history of protecting access to energy services for those who may face financial difficulties. In 2016, the PSC adopted a statewide Energy Affordability Program (EAP), which provides income-eligible consumers with a discount on their monthly electric and/or natural gas bills. The program is administered by New York’s major electric and natural gas utilities, however smaller utilities like Corning and Liberty St. Lawrence Gas also offer a discount program. The PSC monitors and evaluates the utility affordability bill discounts programs and approves measures as needed to strengthen and improve the EAP.

Important February 2024 Update

Governor Hochul continues to prioritize energy affordability by including $200 million in the 2023-2024 State Budget for bill assistance to electric and natural gas consumers. In February 2024, the Public Service Commission approved the New York State Energy Bill Credit Program, a one-time credit to help 8 million customers that are directly billed by electric and gas utilities. It is anticipated that the one-time credit will be applied to customers’ bills within 45 days after the utilities have received the budget funds. The bill credit, which will appear as “The New York State Energy Bill Credit” on the customer’s bill, will be applied to bills automatically and will not require an application. Contact your utility for more information.

The EAP seeks to provide financial relief to an estimated 2.7 million New York households with income levels at the Federal Poverty Level. The program is meant to provide financial relief for low-income consumers by making their electric and/or natural gas utility bills more affordable through monthly bill discounts.   

• Energy costs for low-income customers historically have been between 10-20 percent of their income, or sometimes higher.
• The EAP set an energy burden target level at or below 6% of household income for all New York State utility low-income customers.
• The PSC approved the following measures to fulfill a program goal of reaching all eligible low-income households: 
  • Established new requirements for utilities to identify and enroll all the income eligible households.
  • Mandated that energy utilities automatically enroll EAP participants in budget billing. Customers may opt-out of the budget billing program at any time by contacting the utility.
  • Updated and standardized the EAP discount amounts to provide more appropriate discount levels.

All large electric and natural gas utilities provide the EAP discount to households that receive a Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefit, regardless of fuel or benefit type. In addition, eligibility for the EAP was expanded to include other public assistance programs available for residents of the NY state and/or NY tribal lands.

NYS Assistance Programs

• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
• Lifeline Telephone Service Program
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Veterans Disability or Survivors Pension
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Utility Guarantee / Direct Vendor programs
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Safety Net Assistance

Additional Programs for Tribal Lands

• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Head Start
• Tribal TANF
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

You may be enrolled automatically if you receive benefits from a government assistance program. If you to wish to verify if your account is enrolled, please contact your utility. Customers can contact their provider by phone, fax, mail, website, or email for information about the EAP program. The utility will provide information on eligibility, monthly benefit amounts, and any application procedure. 

Find your utility company contact information below:

Central Hudson

• Bill Discount Program page
• Online Application
• Contact:
  • [email protected]
  • 284 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
  • Fax: 845-486-5676

Con Edison

• Payment Plans and Assistance page
• EAP Downloadable Form 
• Contact:
  • [email protected]
  • Energy Affordability Program
    Con Edison, PA Central
    4 Irving Place, 9 Floor, Box 34
    New York, NY 10003
  • Fax: 212-844-0110

National Fuel

• Home Energy Assistance Program page
• EAP Application Form PDF
• Contact:
  • ATTN: Special Assistance
    National Fuel
    6363 Main St.
    Williamsville, NY 14221
  • Fax: 716-857-7061

National Grid - Upstate

• EAP page
• EAP Online Application
• EAP Downloadable Application PDF
• Contact:
  • [email protected]
  • ATTN:
    Energy Affordability Program, National Grid 
    300 Erie BLVD West C-3
    Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Fax: 315-460-7620

National Grid - Metro

• EAP page
• EAP Online Application
• EAP Downloadable Application PDF
• Contact:
  • [email protected]
  • ATTN: Energy Affordability Program 
    National Grid
    2 Hanson Place 
    Brooklyn, NY 11217
  • Fax: 718-643-1716

National Grid - LI

• EAP page
• EAP Online Application
• EAP Downloadable Application PDF
• Contact:
  • [email protected]
  • ATTN: Energy Affordability Program 
    National Grid
    2 Hanson Place 
    Brooklyn, NY 11217
  • Fax: 718-643-1716

NYSEG

• HEAP and EAP Program page
• EAP Application Form PDF
• Contact:
  • [email protected]
  • Energy Assistance Program
    NYSEG
    P.O. Box 5220 
    Binghamton, NY 13902-5220
  • Fax: 800-325-9920

Orange & Rockland

• EAP page
• EAP Downloadable Application Form PDF
• Contact:
  • [email protected]
  • Orange and Rockland Customer Assistance
    390 W. Route 59
    Spring Valley, NY 10977
  • Fax: 914-925-9235

PSEG

• Household Assistance Program page
• HAR Downloadable Application PDF
• Contact: 
  • [email protected]
  • PSEG Long Island
    ATTN: BOC/Payment Assistance
    PO BOX 9083
    Melville, NY 11747

Rochester Gas & Electric

• HEAP and EAP Program Page
• EAP Application Form PDF
• Contact:
  • [email protected]
  • Energy Assistance Program
    RG&E
    180 South Clinton Avenue
    Rochester, NY 14604
  • Fax: 585-724-8811