Hochul Pushes Utility Bill Discounts as Separate Energy Checks Near
EAP offers monthly bill credits officials say can reach about $500 a year; POWER one-time checks of $100–$200 start mailing Sept. 21. Blakeman calls the package an election-year scam
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a state energy affordability program that makes utility discounts of up to $500 available to roughly half of all households in New York, drawing immediate pushback from her Republican rival in the November governor's race.
Hochul met with Brooklyn residents this week to promote the program, which state officials are framing as relief from elevated energy costs. Details on eligibility thresholds and how the credits will be delivered were not included in the source material available at deadline.
The rebate initiative follows a pattern of the governor and the state Legislature directing payments and discounts to New Yorkers, a practice that has generated both political support and sharp criticism from opponents who argue the timing is driven by electoral considerations.
Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and GOP gubernatorial candidate, called the energy rebate a scam. Blakeman is challenging Hochul this fall as he simultaneously oversees Nassau County government.
The announcement adds to an ongoing debate at the state level over how Albany spends money on direct household assistance versus longer-term infrastructure investment. Spectrum News reported that the energy checks represent the latest in a series of direct payments that Hochul and the Legislature have sent to New Yorkers in recent years.
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