Expanded Low-Income Program Approved in New York

On March 21, the New York State Public Service Commission approved an enhanced low- income rate assistance program for Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.

Under the utility’s Enhanced Power Opportunities Program (EPOP), eligible customers will receive a reduced monthly bill, arrears forgiveness, and referral to EmPower New York, a statewide low-income energy efficiency program administered by the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA).

EPOP funding will total about $4 million over a three-year period and will serve up to 1,000 customers.  Rate assistance will come in the form of a “budget credit allowance”  based on the customer’s income level, family size and utility bill, providing higher credits to those with the greatest needs. The budget credits will range from $25 to $150 monthly.

Under the arrears forgiveness component, outstanding arrears will be placed in abeyance and will be forgiven at a rate of 1/24th of the total, up to a maximum of $100 per month for each month the participant pays the budget bill amount on time and in full.

Prior to adoption of EPOP, Central Hudson offered a low-income program called Powerful Opportunity that provided a discount off the monthly basic service charge for electricity and gas, arrearage payments, budget counseling, energy efficiency measures, and education.

For customers of most electric utilities in New York, energy efficiency and education services are provided by NYSERDA under the system benefit charge funded program, New York Energy $martSM, of which EmPower New York is a component.  Households with incomes below 60 percent of state median income or enrolled in utility low-income payment assistance programs are eligible for EmPower New York services, which include insulation, heating system repair and replacement, air-sealing, health and safety measures and energy use management education.

The Central Hudson order is available on the Commission’s search page  under Cases 05-E-0934 and 05-G-0935.

Source: New York PSC

Page Last Updated: March 27, 2007