Low-Income Households Shortchanged on State Funding for Energy Saving Programs

The New York Public Service Commission's recent decision allocates merely 30% of its $5 billion budget for energy saving programs to low- and moderate-income (LMI) residents. The remaining funding, 70%, will target properties associated with higher-income households, leaving many struggling families without adequate support, particularly as energy costs rise. Advocacy groups warn that this approach fails to address the escalating energy burden faced by 40% of LMI households. Recent reports indicate significant numbers of families are falling behind on energy bills, highlighting the critical need for equitable funding distribution.

"Not committing more money to low-income programs means that not enough households are getting the help that they need. We are already seeing that more and more people are unable to afford their energy bills," said Jessica Azulay, executive director for the Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE).

The PSC's decision, which has been two years in the making, commits only 30 percent of EE/BE funds to programs that serve low-and moderate-income (LMI) households.

Read at City Limits