Currently, the utility bill exceeds three hundred.
A budget bill in New York State will allow more than 8 million residents to receive a check to offset rising utility costs. Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and the Democratic majority in the Assembly and Senate proposed allocating $1 billion for this purpose, which means the initiative is likely to be approved soon, notes the Gothamist publication.
To receive a check of up to $200, taxpayers must have been permanent residents of New York in 2024, according to the text of the bill. No applications are required — payments will be issued automatically.
The amount depends on income and family status: married couples earning up to $150,000 per year will receive the maximum of $200. Those earning between $150,000 and $300,000 per year will receive $150, while singles and heads of households will receive $100.
According to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, nearly 11 million tax returns totaling $61 billion were processed in the state in 2024. Therefore, more than 8 million residents who meet the other requirements can expect to receive the payment.
"We will do everything possible to protect people and their families from the exorbitantly high rates we are facing and hold our utility companies accountable, which sometimes spend too much and then pass those costs onto families," Governor Hochul said Thursday about the initiative.
Her sentiment is shared by fellow Democrats — New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes, representing Brooklyn, stated that the program will generally provide "relief" to residents.
"We are trying to help taxpayers who bear the burden of high energy prices, whether it be gas, electricity, or gasoline bills," Gothamist quotes him as saying.
At the same time, there are critics of the program, including Steve Rhoades, a Republican from Nassau County. During the debate on the bill, he referred to the payments as "crumbs" and stated that the real problem with utility payments lies in the taxes and fees themselves.
"We would propose truly effective measures by eliminating the taxes, fees, surcharges, and requirements we impose on utility companies and consumers who ultimately pay the utility bills," emphasized the Republican.
According to data from the analytical website Utility-Rates, the average monthly utility bill in the state, which includes electricity, water supply, sewage maintenance, and garbage collection, is $341.46.
The lowest average utility payment was recorded in Niagara Falls near Niagara Falls, where it amounts to $245.84. The highest cost is in New York City itself, where residents pay an average of $447.12 per month.
