ALBANY, N.Y. (WBNG) — Relief is coming to New York households struggling to handle the rise in gas and utility prices throughout most of 2026.
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday, Sept. 14, announced that energy rebate checks of up to $200 will be sent to 8.2 million households across New York starting Sept. 21. Checks will be mailed directly to eligible New Yorkers, with deliveries continuing through December. Recipients do not need to apply or sign up to receive a check.
“Too many families are struggling with rising household energy bills and soaring gas prices at the pump,” Gov. Hochul said. “And that’s why we’re putting money directly back in New Yorkers’ pockets by sending energy rebate checks to millions of families as part of our affordability agenda.”
Hochul’s enacted budget included a one-time $1 billion Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) program. The state said the rebate is intended to provide relief from federal tariffs that have increased the cost of living and from the war in Iran, which the state said has pushed the average New York gas price to $4.35 per gallon, a 45% increase since the war began. Diesel has increased 49% since the war began at the end of February, to $5.98 per gallon, the state said.
POWER checks will provide $200 to joint filers with incomes under $150,000 and $150 to joint filers with incomes between $150,000 and $300,000. Single filers with incomes under $150,000 will receive $100. The rebates will be issued as advance credit checks mailed out between September and December.
New Yorkers are eligible for a rebate credit check if, for tax year 2024, they:
Filed a timely New York State Resident Income Tax ReturnWere a full-time resident of New York StateReported income within the qualifying thresholdsWere not claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Commissioner Amanda Hiller said the checks are another way Hochul is trying to help people during challenging economic times.
“At the Governor’s direction, the Tax Department is working to get this much-needed relief to eligible families as quickly as possible,” Hiller said.
Assemblymember Didi Barrett said New Yorkers struggling with rising utility costs are making tough budget decisions and need real relief.
“In this year’s State Budget, we fought for these POWER rebate checks, along with other long-term energy cost-saving measures,” Barrett said. “I thank Governor Hochul for helping get these rebate checks out the door in a timely manner while we continue our work to rein in out-of-control utility bills and prioritize energy affordability for our constituents.”
The state said the rebate checks are the latest in a series of relief measures for energy ratepayers since Hochul took office. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Hochul announced $1.17 billion in one-time funding allowing nearly half a million residential customers and 56,000 small businesses to pay off unaffordable past utility bills, which the state described as the largest utility customer financial assistance program in state history.
Since taking office in 2021, Hochul’s administration has provided more than $7.6 billion to participating households in direct utility bill relief, including the energy rebate checks, along with an additional $1.4 billion to support residential weatherization, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, according to the state.
This year, Hochul put in place an Energy Affordability Agenda addressing rising utility rates.
Hochul’s FY27 enacted budget includes provisions the state says are aimed at ensuring energy remains affordable. Utilities are prohibited from passing the costs of lobbying, public relations campaigns, political donations, and travel to New York ratepayers. Utility CEO salaries will be benchmarked to energy affordability goals set by the Public Service Commission (PSC), and excess utility profits will be returned to ratepayers, according to the state.
The Ratepayer Protection Plan includes the following provisions, according to the state:
Utilities requesting a rate increase must prove capital projects are necessary, demonstrate they have pursued zero-emission options, and present a budget-constrained option that keeps operating costs below the rate of inflation.Rate requests will undergo a 14-month review period by utility companies and the PSC, which will be able to set multi-year rate cases. Regulators will scrutinize fees utilities incur during the rate-setting process.A new energy affordability index will benchmark utility performance against other states. If a rate case pushes the average household energy burden above 6%, the state can deploy an independent Affordability Monitor into the utility’s boardroom.
The FY27 enacted budget also establishes a RATES Commission, which will bring together consumer advocates and energy experts to investigate causes of rising utility bills, evaluate utility profits and review energy market designs, according to the state.
Copyright 2026 WBNG. All rights reserved.