Enroll in the State Energy Affordability Program

Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 1.3 million households (or nearly one in five New Yorkers) have fallen behind on their utility bills. And with home heating costs expected to spike even further this winter, it's important to know that there is help available right now if you are low-income and behind on your bills. New York State’s Energy Affordability Program (EAP) will provide a credit to save money on your utility bill for qualifying customers.

How to Determine if You Qualify for Utility Debt Assistance

Click on a Button Below for Step-by-Step Instructions

Communities for Local Power held 7 workshops throughout December 2021 to aid low income community members enroll in the state energy affordability program. In total, CLP helped over 100 households enroll in the EAP.


These events were majorly successful with the help of our wonderful friends at the Public Utility Law Project. For several of the events, we had attendance from the Department of Social Services to help with HEAP and SNAP questions, the PSC to address complaints, and Cornell Cooperative Extension offering energy efficiency tips, home audits, and applications for possible grant/free insulation and weatherization to qualifying residents! We look forward to hosting similar events this spring and summer.

If you have a space where community members gather and would like us to host a utility event there, please email dacruz@communitiesforlocalpower.org.

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Resources for Utility Debt Relief

  • Toll-free hotline: 877-669-2572

    Email: info@utilityproject.org

  • HEAP: (845) 334-5436

    SNAP: (845) 334-5200

  • Billing complaints: 1-800-342-3377

    Gas/electric shutoff: 1-800-342-3355