New York State will have $60 million available to help low-income residents with heating bills this winter. The federal government is providing the funds to assist certain New Yorkers with covering the rising costs of staying warm.

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Winter Is Expected To Be Bone-Chilling In New York As Energy Prices Increase Significantly

National Grid announced recently that its rates for consumers in New York State are set to increase by nearly 40% from last year,

Based on current market conditions, National Grid’s residential natural gas customers who use an average of 713 therms during the five-month winter heating season — November 1, 2022, to March 30, 2023 — are forecasted to pay about $263 more than last winter. That’s a 39% increase for the same amount of energy use over five months, with $231 of that increase attributed to higher wholesale supply prices.

Meanwhile, The Old Farmer's Almanac said New Yorkers can expect a brutal bone-chilling winter,

The eastern half of the U.S. should brace for potentially record-breaking cold to define the season.

$60 Million In Heating Assistance Available For Low-Income New Yorkers

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On Friday, October 7, 2022, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced the emergency supplemental Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. LIHEAP is a federal program that helps residents pay for their heating bills. Starting on November 1, New Yorkers can apply for assistance online at myBenefits.ny.gov.

Senator Gillibrand said,

Today, I’m proud to be delivering an estimated $60 million in emergency supplemental LIHEAP funding for our state. I fought for this additional money to ensure that New Yorkers who rely on LIHEAP assistance have what they need to heat their homes all winter and I will keep fighting to make sure every New Yorker can afford essentials and stay safe and warm.

- New York state’s one-time Electric & Gas Bill Relief credit program - customers currently in the arrears from a bill prior to May 1, 2022, have up until December 31, 2022, to apply for assistance to get caught up before winter (click here).

- The federal government offers aid through the Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides customers who meet certain income restrictions with financial grants to help pay home heating bills (click here).

 

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