ALBANY, N.Y. — More than 8 million New Yorkers are expected to receive one-time energy rebate checks of up to $200 under a $1 billion relief program included in the state budget, officials announced.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the rebates are intended to help residents cope with rising utility costs and broader affordability challenges facing households across the state.
Under the program, known as the Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate, or POWER initiative, eligible residents will automatically receive payments without having to apply. Checks are scheduled to be mailed between September and December.
State officials said eligibility is based on 2024 tax returns. Joint filers with incomes below $150,000 will receive $200, while those earning between $150,000 and $300,000 will receive $150. Single filers with incomes below $150,000 will receive $100.
Hochul said the rebates are part of a broader effort to address the rising cost of living in New York, including increasing utility expenses that have strained household budgets.
“We know New Yorkers need relief,” Hochul said while discussing the program earlier this month. “The bills are getting higher and higher, and families are feeling the impact.”
The rebate program comes as many residents have voiced concerns over increasing electricity and gas costs. Consumer advocates and lawmakers have pointed to utility rate hikes as a growing burden for households already facing high housing, food and transportation expenses.
Republicans criticized the program as a temporary fix that does not address the underlying causes of rising energy costs.
Joseph Griffo, a Republican state senator from upstate New York, said residents need long-term relief rather than a one-time payment.
Despite the criticism, state officials said the rebates will provide direct financial assistance to millions of households and are expected to begin reaching mailboxes this fall.
As reported by VINnews