Faced with mounting criticism over high energy costs, Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers two years ago ordered state utility regulators to expand the bill discount program for low-income customers to more New York residents.
Now the state Public Service Commission has done that. In a unanimous vote last week, the PSC loosened the income restrictions on who qualifies for reduced monthly bills. It adds as many as 1.6 million new households to the discount program.
“The Public Service Commission heeded Governor Hochul’s call to make energy utilities more affordable by expanding the eligibility for utility bill discounts to all households with income below the state median income,’’ said James Denn, speaking for the commission…