New York residents will begin receiving electricity bill rebate checks this month as part of the Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) program. The one-time payments, secured by Governor Kathy Hochul in May, aim to alleviate the financial strain caused by soaring utility costs.
The checks will be mailed to eligible residents through December. The amount of the rebate varies between $100 and $200, depending on income level and tax filing status. Single filers with incomes under $150,000 will receive $100. Joint filers with incomes between $150,000 and $300,000 will receive $150. The highest rebate amount, $200, will go to joint filers with incomes under $150,000.
To qualify for the rebate, residents must have filed a timely New York State Resident Income Tax Return for Tax Year 2024, been a full-time resident in the state for that tax year, reported income within the specified thresholds, and not been claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer's return. The rebates are being issued automatically to eligible individuals, requiring no application.
Governor Hochul stated that the budget includes these enhanced protections and direct financial relief, alongside investments in sustainability, grid reliability, infrastructure, and resiliency. "This Budget not only means enhanced protections and direct financial relief for ratepayers today, it prepares us for an even stronger tomorrow thanks to our historic investments in sustainability, grid reliability, infrastructure and resiliency," she said.
The rebates come as New York faces some of the highest residential electricity prices in the nation. According to a recent analysis by the Empire Data, New York's residential electricity prices were 29.93 cents per kilowatt-hour in May, 62% higher than the national average. This places New York third nationally for electricity costs, behind Hawaii and California.
Utility bills have been increasing due to a combination of factors, including costly grid upgrades, rising demand from data centers, and rate increases. Consolidated Edison (Con Ed) had previously announced plans to increase electricity bills by 3.9% annually from 2026 to 2028, and gas bills by higher percentages over the same period, which would have significantly increased costs for average New Yorkers by 2028.