energy assistance — New Yorkers Should Have A Better Access To Utility Payment Lawmakers Says. (Photo: Panhandle Community Service)

New Yorkers Should Have A Better Access To Utility Payment Lawmakers Says.

By Jessa Mae Flordeliza On May 28, 2023

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Lawmakers Proposed To Enroll Eligible Households In Utility Companies’ Energy Assistance Programs. This Is For Those Who Are Eligible But Did Not Receive Any Assistance And Also To Have Better Access In Times Of Need.

utility programs — New Yorkers Should Have A Better Access To Utility Payment Lawmakers Says. (Photo: City of Shelby)

Utility Assistance Program Proposed Automatic Enrollment

Legislation led by state Sen. Kevin Parker and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, proposed to have New Yorkers enrolled to utility assistance program. It aims to help 1.1 million household who are eligible but not receiving the bill assistance. Failure of the household paying utility payments incurred a debt of $1.7 billion, thus it gave burden to the citizens.

The lawmakers is focused on the household that received public assistance but missed home energy assistance due to handful of paper works. Household under federal Home Energy Assistance Program are automatically enrolled in the utility program, low-income household however, will manually enroll. AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel said that it is a straight fix and a first step in expanding the benefits matching to more assistance program.