Utilities, Energy & Communications · Surprise rank #401
Earn Too Much for Public Assistance? You Can Still Qualify for a Monthly Utility Discount
The Enhanced Energy Affordability Program reaches some moderate-income households that do not receive HEAP, SNAP or similar benefits.
Who
Customers of participating utilities who meet the pilot's moderate-income rules and are not already receiving the traditional Energy Affordability Program discount.
Where: Utility-specific across New York, including participating NYC and Long Island gas service areas.
What to do
Start here: Check the electric and gas utilities separately and submit each utility's EEAP application.
Eligibility: Household income and utility-account rules; cannot receive overlapping EAP and EEAP discounts.
What you get
New York's utility pilot extends monthly energy discounts to many moderate-income households that do not receive traditional public benefits.
Benefit: A recurring electric or gas bill discount set by the participating utility and income tier.
Possible value: Usually hundreds of dollars per year; exact credit depends on utility and service.
Good to know
Important: Two-year pilot, utility-specific eligibility and enrollment window; PSEG Long Island electric service is not necessarily governed by the same tariff.
Availability: Pilot launched in 2026; rolling while the utility's enrollment remains open.
Why people miss it: The program is new and reaches incomes far above ordinary HEAP/SNAP thresholds.
Sources reviewed: Aug 2, 2026