Energy Affordability Program Could Cut NY Utility Bills
As summer heat drives up cooling costs, New York says millions more households may qualify for monthly discounts.
As summer heat pushes air conditioners into overdrive, New York is reminding residents that the Energy Affordability Program may help lower monthly electric and gas bills. The message is simple: if you qualify, check your utility account now. The savings may not erase high energy costs, but they can help families, seniors, and people with fixed incomes keep the lights on and the home cool.
Governor Kathy Hochul issued the reminder on July 2, 2026, during a summer heat wave, urging New Yorkers to enroll in the state’s Energy Affordability Program and the newer Enhanced Energy Affordability Program. Both programs provide monthly utility bill discounts to income-eligible households across New York. State officials say the programs already deliver more than $500 million in annual discounts to about one million households statewide. They also estimate that another 1.5 million eligible households have not yet enrolled.
What Is the Energy Affordability Program?
The Energy Affordability Program, often called EAP, is a state-backed utility discount program for eligible residential customers. It is designed to make monthly electric and natural gas bills more affordable for households with limited income. The New York Department of Public Service says the program’s goal is to keep eligible customers’ energy burden at or below 6 percent of household income.
That matters because summer heat is not just uncomfortable. It can be dangerous. Families may need fans, air conditioning, refrigerated medicine, medical devices, or safe indoor cooling. When bills rise, some households face a painful choice between comfort, safety, food, medication, and rent.
Governor Hochul said New Yorkers who are not enrolled should visit the state’s EAP information page and learn more. “Now’s the time,” she said, pointing to the need for household utility relief during rising costs.
Who May Qualify?
Many New Yorkers may qualify for the Energy Affordability Program if they already receive certain public benefits. According to the state, large electric and natural gas utilities provide EAP discounts to residential customers who receive Home Energy Assistance Program benefits or Public Assistance, regardless of fuel or benefit type.
The Department of Public Service lists several programs that may support traditional EAP eligibility, including:
- HEAP
- SNAP
- Medicaid
- SSI
- Lifeline Telephone Service Program
- Veterans Disability or Survivors Pension
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- TANF
- Safety Net Assistance
There are also additional qualifying programs for residents of tribal lands, including Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Head Start, Tribal TANF, and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.
What Changed With the Enhanced Energy Affordability Program?
The Enhanced Energy Affordability Program, or EEAP, expands potential help to more households. As of January 13, 2026, the state says EEAP made benefits available to utility customers below state median income or, in some utility areas, area median income, even if they do not qualify under traditional EAP rules.
This is important for working families who may earn too much for some traditional assistance programs but still struggle with high utility bills. These households can fall into a gap: not poor enough to qualify for one program, not secure enough to absorb every rate increase.
In plain terms, EEAP says: if your household income is below the relevant median income standard, you may be able to self-identify and apply even if you are not already receiving HEAP, SNAP, Medicaid, or another listed benefit.
How Much Can Customers Save?
The amount varies. New York officials say discounts differ by utility and income tier because energy costs vary across service territories. Discounts can reach hundreds of dollars per year, depending on income and utility rules.
That may not sound like a fortune. But for a senior living alone, a parent cooling a child’s bedroom, or a person managing a heat-sensitive health condition, even a monthly discount can make a difference.
The fairest way to describe the benefit is this: the Energy Affordability Program is not a one-time rebate. It is a monthly bill discount for eligible customers. That makes it a steady form of relief.
How to Enroll
Some customers may be enrolled automatically if they receive HEAP or Public Assistance. But automatic enrollment does not cover everyone. The state advises customers who believe they qualify to contact their utility directly to confirm enrollment or ask about applying.
For Upstate New York residents served by National Grid, the Department of Public Service lists National Grid’s Energy Affordability Program mailing address as 300 Erie Blvd. W., C-3, Syracuse, NY 13202. The DPS page also provides online and downloadable application options for National Grid Upstate customers.
Customers can generally apply or ask questions through their utility by phone, website, mail, email, or other listed process. The utility should provide details on eligibility, required documents, monthly discount amounts, and application steps.
Heat Protections Add Another Layer of Safety
The state is also pointing to new extreme heat protections. In March 2026, the Public Service Commission approved a statewide policy for the largest investor-owned electric utilities and water utilities. The policy prohibits residential service terminations for nonpayment during extreme heat events.
For National Grid residential electric customers, a utility outreach plan states that an extreme heat day occurs when the heat index reaches or is expected to reach 90 degrees or higher. It also says shutoffs for nonpayment will be suspended during those periods. Certain high heat island areas receive additional protections for two days after an extreme heat day.
These protections are not a substitute for bill assistance. They are a safeguard. They help keep people connected during dangerous heat, but unpaid balances can still remain. That is why enrollment in the Energy Affordability Program can be so important.
A Fair Look at the Concerns
Some critics may argue that utility discounts do not solve the larger problem of high energy costs. That is true. A discount does not fix aging housing, poor insulation, rising supply costs, or the long-term burden of poverty.
But it would be wrong to dismiss the program because it is not a cure-all. The Department of Public Service says EAP is part of a wider affordability strategy that includes energy efficiency and weatherization programs. These long-term upgrades can help reduce energy use and lower bills over time.
The best approach is both immediate and long-term: help people pay bills now, then help homes use less energy later.
What New Yorkers Should Do Now
If you are struggling with energy bills, take these steps:
- Check your current utility bill to see if an EAP discount already appears.
- Contact your utility and ask if you are enrolled in the Energy Affordability Program.
- Ask whether you qualify for the Enhanced Energy Affordability Program.
- If you receive HEAP, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Public Assistance, or similar benefits, mention that when you call.
- Ask about energy efficiency or weatherization programs that may reduce future bills.
Conclusion: Relief Is Available, But People Must Claim It
The Energy Affordability Program is one of those public programs that can be easy to miss but meaningful once found. New York says roughly 1.5 million more households may be eligible but are not yet enrolled. That is not just a statistic. It represents families who may be paying more than they need to pay during one of the most expensive seasons of the year.
The call to action is clear: check your utility account, ask about EAP and EEAP, and share the information with neighbors, seniors, veterans, caregivers, and families with young children. In a heat wave, information can be a form of protection.
