Governor Hochul Announces Two Free Snowmobile Weekends for March

 Registration Waived for Out-of-State Snowmobilers for Promotional Weekends 

$4.2 Million for Snowmobile Trail Maintenance and Grooming Across New York State 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today designated March 5-6 and March 12-13 for free snowmobiling by all out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers. During these promotional weekends, the requirement to register in New York is waived for properly registered and insured out-of-state snowmobiling enthusiasts wishing to explore New York's 10,500 miles of snowmobile trails. The Governor also announced up to $4.2 million for snowmobile trail maintenance and grooming will be distributed to local partners across New York State. 

“New York is unrivaled in its natural beauty in all four seasons and offers a vast recreational trail system for snowmobilers to enjoy our stunning winter landscape,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State partners with local governments and snowmobile clubs who work hard to create an exceptional snowmobile network. By offering free snowmobile weekends, we are helping to highlight our trails to out-of-state visitors and boost our upstate tourism economy, while giving New Yorkers greater opportunity to explore their state.” 

Outside of this promotion, out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers are required to register their snowmobiles with New York State before hitting the state's trails, stretching from the Hudson Valley to the North Country to Western New York. Participants in the free snowmobiling event must operate a snowmobile that is validly registered in their home state/Canadian Province and must carry any applicable insurance as required by their home state/province. 

This year's Free Snowmobiling Weekends reinforce the importance of tourism to state and local economies, and New York's commitment to rebuilding the industry in the wake of the pandemic. The invitation to out-of-state snowmobilers complements the governor's multi-faceted "Bring Back Tourism, Bring Back Jobs" initiative. Earlier this month, I LOVE NY launched a new global marketing effort that included paid tourism advertising in overseas markets for the first time. Additionally, guidelines and eligibility screening tools for two tourism industry relief programs totaling $125 million in support are available online. 

New York State is distributing up to $4.2 million for snowmobile trail maintenance to local communities in New York this winter. The local grants program is funded by snowmobile registration fees collected by the State Department of Motor Vehicles and deposited into the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. County and municipal governments distribute the grants to about 230 snowmobile clubs across the state, which in turn groom and maintain the trails. The trail grants support 10,500 miles of designated trails across the state for snowmobilers to safely enjoy. 

Erik Kulleseid, Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said, “New York State has so many options for outdoor winter enthusiasts to visit the Empire State. I’m grateful to the local governments and snowmobile clubs who help keep trail systems safe and well-groomed for residents and visitors who want to make New York their winter destination.” 

Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, “Snowmobiling is a great way to experience the picturesque landscapes and winter wilderness throughout New York State. With thousands of miles of trails, visitors can choose from a variety of terrains that, combined with inviting lodging and delicious food and beverage experiences, can make for a rejuvenating getaway. Free Snowmobiling Weekends offer great opportunities for snowmobilers to come be a part of the excitement and natural beauty of New York State.”  

Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “New York State and its local partners maintain a beautiful and extensive snowmobile trail network that we’re excited to showoff to our out-of-state friends. I encourage sledders to take advantage of these free snowmobiling weekends and enjoy in a safe and responsible manner.”   

Dominic Jacangelo, Executive Director, New York State Snowmobile Association, said, “We appreciate that Governor Hochul understands the economic impact of snowmobiling on the New York State economy, and that she wants to invite others to experience the amazing trail system that we have in New York State.”  

Trail conditions vary depending on snowfall amounts and other factors. Check the websites of area snowmobile clubs for information on trail conditions, including the status of grooming. The New York State Snowmobile Association website has information about snowmobiling and snowmobile clubs. Maps of the state snowmobile trail network are available on New York State Parks' website here.  

A guide from I LOVE NY to snowmobile trips available in the state can be found here.  

The DMV reminds New York riders that snowmobile registrations must be renewed annually. DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations online on the DMV website, by mail or in person at a DMV office. Snowmobile registration costs $100, but is decreased to $45 if the snowmobiler is a member of a local snowmobile club. 

Non-New Yorkers who wish to use a snowmobile in New York State before or after this promotional weekends can use the NYS Registration for Out-of-State Snowmobile service to get a 15-day registration and operate their snowmobile here immediately. DMV will send a permanent registration in the mail. 

For information on snowmobiling, visit parks.ny.gov. Visit the DEC website here for more information on snowmobiling on state lands. 

NYS COMPTROLLER DiNAPOLI PROHIBITS NEW RUSSIAN INVESTMENTS AND DIRECTS INVESTMENT REVIEW

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has directed staff to prohibit all new investments in Russian companies and to review the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s (Fund) current investments and assess whether they present financial risks that warrant further restrictions or divestment. He is also reaching out to the Fund’s investment managers to urge them to conduct a similar examination to mitigate investment risk and minimize market impact.

“Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine has led to unprecedented sanctions against Russian companies and individuals,” DiNapoli said. “While American sanctions already prohibit investments in many Russian companies, I believe it is prudent to freeze purchases in all Russian companies due to the situation’s unpredictability and the likelihood that conditions will deteriorate. This will ensure that the Fund does not increase its minimal exposure to the Russian economy while completing its divestment review, consistent with my fiduciary duty.

“This crisis has underscored major political and investment risks relating to President Putin’s unhinged, tyrannical foreign policy, leading to sanctions that have significantly hobbled Russia’s already weak economic growth. Russia’s currency has plummeted in just days since sanctions have been instituted. We will continue to monitor these changing events. New York stands with the Ukrainan people. We hope for a peaceful resolution.”

The Fund estimates it has $110.8 million in public equity investments including direct holdings and co-mingled funds in Russian companies.

About the New York State Common Retirement Fund

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is one of the largest public pension funds in the United States. The Fund holds and invests the assets of the New York State and Local Retirement System on behalf of more than one million state and local government employees and retirees and their beneficiaries. The Fund has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation. The Fund's fiscal year ends March 31. Its quarterly value as of Dec. 31, 2021 was $279.7 billion.

Two Florida Men Charged With $11 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme To Traffic In Prescriptions For Medical Equipment

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) New York Regional Office announced today the arrest of ZACHARY S. SEID and ANTHONY CRACCHIOLO on charges of conspiracy, health care fraud, wire fraud, and unlawfully receiving kickbacks in connection with Medicare. As alleged in an Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, SEID and CRACCHIOLO, ran companies dedicated to illegally buying and selling prescriptions for durable medical equipment (“DME”) such as leg, arm, and back braces, and then using those prescriptions to file fraudulent Medicare claims for more than $11 million, as well as selling such prescriptions to other DME supply companies, so that those companies in turn could also file fraudulent Medicare claims. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan. SEID and CRACCHIOLO, who were arrested this morning in Florida, will be presented tomorrow before magistrate judges in the Southern District of Florida. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Medicare is an invaluable taxpayer-funded program dedicated to providing affordable health care to beneficiaries over 65 or with disabilities, not to enriching those who would defraud the program by buying and selling false prescriptions.”

HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert said:  “These allegations describe a greed-fueled scheme that undermined our health care system and the people it serves. Such scams threaten patient health, waste taxpayer funds, and drive up healthcare costs for all of us.  Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively root out health care fraud and bring criminals to justice.”

As alleged in the Indictment:[1]

From at least July 2019 through at least October 2020, SEID and CRACCHIOLO engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare in at least three ways.  First, SEID and CRACCHIOLO illegally paid kickbacks of more than $565,000 to purchase fraudulent DME prescriptions, including prescriptions “signed” by doctors who never in fact signed or authorized those prescriptions and were unaware that their names and identities were being so used.  These DME prescriptions were for such equipment as braces for ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, and backs.  Second, SEID and CRACCHIOLO unlawfully received more than $425,000 in kickbacks, reselling some of these prescriptions to DME suppliers, so that those suppliers in turn could fraudulently bill Medicare for the DME.  Finally, in about May and June 2020, SEID and CRACCHIOLO acquired five of their own fraudulent DME supply companies, and used the bogus prescriptions to file more than $11 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, seeking payment to the DME suppliers that SEID and CRACCHIOLO controlled.

Together, SEID and CRACCHIOLO sold to multiple DME supply companies, and established control over at least five DME supply companies of their own, which they used to submit their fraudulent Medicare claims. Those companies were: 1 Medical Supplies Corp., Ameri Med Supplies Corp., One Medical Health Supplies Corp., Sun Med Equip Corp., and Sunrise Med Service Group Corp.  In addition, Seid owned a company called Seid Services, Inc., while Cracchiolo owned a company called Dataco.

SEID, 35, of Boynton Beach, Florida, and CRACCHIOLO, 42, of Parkland, Florida, are each charged in four counts with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, wire fraud, and receiving kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.  The conspiracy and wire fraud counts each carry a maximum potential prison sentence of 20 years; the health care fraud count carries a maximum potential prison sentence of 10 years; and the count charging violation of the Anti-Kickback statute carries a maximum potential prison sentence of five years. The maximum potential penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of HHS-OIG.

The allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR ERIC ADAMS AND COMMISSIONER MANUEL CASTRO ON EXTENDED HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR UKRAINE

 

“As the City of New York continues to monitor the Russian invasion of Ukraine closely, we stand in solidarity and support with Ukrainians in New York City and all over the world. We encourage the Biden administration to consider the use of every tool at their disposal — including parole, Temporary Protected Status, and extended humanitarian protections — to protect Ukrainians here who are unable to return to their home country and welcome those seeking safety and freedom.

 

“Ukrainian New Yorkers should know that their city has their back. We are ready to work hand-in-hand with our federal and state partners in ensuring that New York is a place of refuge.”

 

The Adams administration is asking the federal government to provide work permits and protection from deportation for Ukrainian non-citizens in the U.S. — including Ukrainian DACA recipients and F-1 international students — who cannot safely return home.

 

Ukrainian New Yorkers can call the Mayor’s Office of Immigrants Affairs’ Immigration Legal Services Hotline at 800-354-0365 for connections to city-funded, free and safe immigration legal help.

 

Borough President Mark Levine - Putting Pressure on the Putin Regime

 

Robert --   This has been a week of significant news both globally and locally.   The Governor and Mayor announced that as of next Monday (3/7) a number of Covid measures will be lifted, including masking in schools and screening for vaccination in restaurants, museums, and other indoor venues. While we have made enormous progress against Covid, with our omicron wave now behind us, these protective measures are being lifted at a time when we are still seeing 800-900 cases per day.  We have more work to do to beat back this pandemic. We need to increase youth vaccination (still less than 50% for ages 5-11 in NYC). We need to push hard to increase the booster rate (still less than 50% for adults here). We need to make testing as easy and ubiquitous as possible. With smart public health strategies, we can bring about the comeback we all want for Manhattan and New York City.  Watch BP Levine call for the seizure of luxury real estate assets in Manhattan owned by Putin-connected oligarchs HERE. Meanwhile our hearts are feeling the pain of the horrific war being waged on Ukraine by Vladimir Putin. We must do everything possible to support New York City’s large Ukrainian community. We also need to do our part to pressure the Putin regime to end this immoral war. That’s why I have called for the seizure of luxury real estate assets in Manhattan owned by Putin-connected oligarchs. We need to send a message that our city will hold accountable those who have aided and abetted Putin’s reprehensible actions. We continue to keep our focus right here in Manhattan. Below you’ll find information on our new Manhattan Small Business Booster Loan Program, an extended deadline to apply to your Community Boards, and much more.  Stay safe,

Attorney General James Calls on National Weather Service to Increase Language Accessibility for Severe Weather Warnings

 

Citing Deadly Aftermath of Hurricane Ida, AG James Pushes for Expansion of Language Accessibility in Emergency Alert Systems

 New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Acting Director of the National Weather Service Mary C. Erickson, calling for expanded language accessibility for severe weather alerts. Currently, warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS), which are issued in advance of a severe weather event, are not accessible in any language except for English and Spanish. In advance of Hurricane Ida, which devastated New York in September 2021, NWS alerts were sent out to New Yorkers in only English and Spanish to warn them of the impending storm. The storm caused 18 deaths in New York, and the majority of those individuals were of Asian descent and did not speak or had limited proficiency in English or Spanish.

“Language should never be a barrier to critical information that could save lives,” said Attorney General James. “The National Weather Service must work with other agencies to ensure that all immigrant communities can be effectively warned of future weather-related crises and given the equal chance to survive. It is our responsibility to keep our people safe, and to do so, we must expand language accessibility in our safety protocols.”

In September 2021, Hurricane Ida ravaged the Northeast and tore across New York City. At least 91 people died across nine states, including at least 18 drowning deaths in New York from flash flooding. The NWS sent out a series of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) to all WEA-enabled phones in New York City, warning of a “catastrophic” flash flood emergency. These alerts were issued only in English and Spanish, which are not the primary languages for many of New York’s immigrant communities.

There are approximately 700 different languages and dialects spoken in New York City.  Nearly all the victims who lost their lives to the destruction from Hurricane Ida in New York City were immigrants from Trinidad, Nepal, and China, with primary languages that were neither English nor Spanish. Given the number of immigrants who speak languages other than English and Spanish, Attorney General James urges the NWS to send alerts in at least the languages most commonly spoken by New York City residents with limited English proficiency: Chinese (both traditional and simplified), Russian, French Creole, Bengali, and Korean, in addition to Spanish.

The Commerce Department has issued guidance on executive orders aimed at ensuring that federally assisted programs are accessible to all people, including those with limited English proficiency. In 2014, following the tragic loss of life from extreme weather events in Spanish-speaking communities due to a lack of Spanish safety alerts, the NWS recommended that it should establish a more effective procedure for non-English speaking alert services to warn of severe weather events. Attorney General James is calling on the NWS and the Department of Commerce to swiftly develop the capacity to provide hazardous weather warnings to all Americans, regardless of the language they speak.

New York City emergency management agency maintains an opt-in alerting system, known as NotifyNYC, and these alerts are available in numerous languages. However, city residents must proactively register their cell phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses in order to receive such alerts. There is no indication that most residents in immigrant communities are signed up to receive any such alerts.

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander Unveils Federal Stimulus Fund Tracker To Bring Transparency and Accountability to City Spending of COVID-19 Relief Funds

 

Data portal provides previously unpublished detail on the spending to date. Lander calls for additional transparency and tracking of outcomes to better assess the impacts of relief aid.

 City Comptroller Brad Lander unveiled an interactive public dashboard tracking the spending from FY 2022 onward of nearly $11 billion in Federal pandemic relief funding for New York City. Through FY 2026, Federal pandemic aid is expected to total $26 billion. The tracker shows that through mid-February the City has spent $1.16 billion of $3.30 billion in planned State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) spending for FY 2022, and $1.7 billion of $3.0 billion in FY 2022 funds specifically awarded for education.

View the Federal Stimulus Fund Tracker here.

“This time-limited funding is a lifeline for New York City as we work to recover from a public health and economic crisis that has left too many of our neighbors struggling,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “Spending this funding wisely is critical to securing a recovery that brings our city back to life, confronts the inequities that predated the pandemic, and prepares us better for future crises. Without clear goals, transparency and accountability, we run the risk of squandering this opportunity, getting too little for what we spend, and leaving our city with long-term spending obligations we can’t meet.”

Comptroller Lander has repeatedly called for clear goal-setting and tracking of Federal stimulus funding. The stimulus tracker released today is a big stride towards transparency regarding the amount and categories of spending, enabling the public to download planned and actual spending by agency, unit of appropriation, budget code and object code.

In setting up the tracker, the Comptroller’s Office identified significant limitations in the City’s ability to account for both the dollars spent and the outcomes achieved.

A complete and independent accounting of FY 2021 spending was hampered by budget codes that commingled funding sources, spending reallocations, and the addition of new budget codes. The NYC Office of Management and Budget reported $1.26 billion of SLFRF spending in FY 2021, but only $520 million could be independently identified in the City’s Financial Management System (FMS). Another $318 million is unaccounted for and is expected to be reallocated in future fiscal years.  Due to the City’s inability to uniformly link grant funding sources to expenditures, there is no clear mechanism to monitor and control spending against grants by which the City can provide more accurate budget projections. The City’s Office of Management and Budget is well aware of these issues and the Comptroller’s office is committed to working with OMB to initiate a cost accounting feature in FMS, which is long overdue.

Lander also highlighted the lack of meaningful reporting on outcomes. Roughly half the total amount of Federal aid has been spent, yet few metrics are available to assess what New Yorkers are getting from this spending. The City released planned performance metrics for SLFRF funding in August, but has not published interim measures.

For school spending, the largest category of Federal funds, the City has not been clear about how it will track the impact of programs on students’ health and academic, social, and emotional recovery. The Department of Education (DOE) will receive a total of $7.7 billion in federal aid to be spent through FY 2025. Data available on the tracker show that the DOE has spent $725 million on maintaining safe and clean classrooms in the current school year, but has not provided data on the distribution of ventilation or measures of indoor air quality. More than $260 million has been spent on addressing “learning loss,” but no data is available to provide detail on what these funds bought or how the dollars have met the needs of students who have faced two traumatic years of pandemic loss and disruption in their personal and academic lives.

Lander continued, “The City has committed $121 million for rental assistance in FY 2022, how many households have received a voucher? $725 million was committed for school facilities, how much was spent on ventilation? The City set aside $261 million for ‘learning loss,’ how many reading coaches were hired? How many devices distributed? How many students with IEPs enrolled in after-school or Saturday classes?

“I urge the Administration to provide more detailed interim information on the outcomes of this spending so that we can ensure we’re getting the most out of every dollar to help our students, small businesses, and neighborhoods recover.”

In addition, the City is using time-limited Federal funds to pay for ongoing core instructional and support initiatives, and therefore may face risks continuing to fund these programs when stimulus funds expire. Chief among these is 3K expansion, which faces a risk of $376 million in FY 2026. The City would also need to provide additional funding of $111 million in FY 2025 and $235 million in FY 2026 as ongoing support of special education pre-kindergarten expansion, mental health services and community schools programs.

The COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Tracker, published on the Comptroller’s Checkbook NYC website, will allow detailed analysis of funds committed and spent to date. Spending data currently reflects spending plans as of the FY 2023 Preliminary Financial Plan released this February and will be regularly updated to mirror data recorded in the City’s Financial Management System (FMS).

Explore the Comptroller’s Federal Stimulus Tracker here: www.checkbooknyc.com/stimulus

Governor Hochul Warns New Yorkers About Rising Energy Costs and Directs Utilities to Work with Consumers

 

Electric & Gas Utilities Directed to Work with Consumers Facing High Energy Bills   

Enhanced Statewide Campaign to Connect Low-Income Consumers with Assistance Programs 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the state's utility regulator has now sent letters to all of New York's major electric and gas utilities requiring them to increase their outreach and education efforts with New Yorkers on the continuing surge in energy supply prices and the impact it will have on utility bills, in light of the national increases to utility bills we are seeing as a result of the rising cost of natural gases. In addition, Governor Hochul launched an enhanced statewide campaign to increase relief efforts for low-income customers to access millions of dollars in aid that are available.   

"The extreme utility bill increases all of us are seeing are having a serious impact on our household budgets, and in response we are taking action," Governor Hochul said. "I have directed the Department of Public Service to ensure all the major electric and gas utilities in the state work with customers, and in particular, our most vulnerable residents to protect them from volatile pricing and educate them about resources available to them."  

The cost of natural gas, which is used to heat homes and generate electricity, continues to rise sharply resulting in a significant increase — sometimes more than doubling — of the supply component of customer electric and/or natural gas bills as compared to prior months. These bill increases are being driven by a global increase in natural gas commodity prices due to higher domestic usage because of colder-than-normal weather, increased economic activity, and increased international demand for natural gas. 

On February 11, 2022, the Public Service Commission sent a letter to Con Edison, the state's largest utility, urging it to review its billing practices and better communicate with its customers. On February 25, Con Edison responded and said it will adjust its billing process to reduce the likelihood of significant customer bill volatility. Con Edison also said it would improve its communication with electric and gas customers. 

Today the PSC issued letters to all of the state's other major electric and gas utilities calling on them to take steps to communicate proactively, protect customers, and mitigate costs impacts wherever possible, including through a variety of buying methods and hedges, as well as promote consumer payment assistance plans and programs to reduce energy usage. Separately, Governor Hochul called on the state's heating oil and propane suppliers to also be proactive in terms of increasing consumer awareness of options to reduce home heating bills.   

Aggressively Reducing New York's Reliance on Fossil Fuels  

Recent increases in energy supply costs are a painful reminder that the State remains overly reliant on fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. This dependence on fossil fuel is contributing to climate change and air pollution, but, as this experience shows, it is also exposing consumers to global commodity price fluctuations. We must continue working together to advance the State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels that are subject to dramatic price swings experienced this winter. 

As New York moves toward a greener, cleaner economy, Governor Hochul is making significant investments to diversify electricity fuel sources through renewables to decrease the state's reliance on fossil fuels and stabilize energy costs. Recognizing the magnitude of the climate crisis, Governor Hochul announced an ambitious renewable energy and jobs agenda in her 2022 State of the State address and Executive Budget proposal. This agenda includes the next offshore wind development solicitation; a $500 million investment for offshore wind port infrastructure and supply chain; achieving 2 million climate-friendly, electrified or electrification-ready homes by 2030; phasing out New York's dirtiest, polluting power plants; animating the market for new clean energy technologies like green hydrogen; and ensure quality green job creation. 

Millions of Dollars in Heating Utility Assistance Available   

To address the increase in supply prices, Governor Hochul today launched an enhanced statewide effort led by the Department of Public Service (DPS) and Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to raise awareness of the various assistance programs available to help struggling New Yorkers pay heating and utility expenses. These programs will help avoid potential service interruptions throughout the remainder of the winter season. These programs include:  

• The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which can provide up to $751 to eligible homeowners and renters depending on income, household size and how they heat their home. A family of four may have a maximum gross monthly income of $5,249, or an annual gross income of $62,983, and still qualify for benefits. So far, 1.5 million regular HEAP benefits have been received by eligible households, totaling $216 million. 
• New York State is also providing $250 million in additional federal funding to help low-income households pay heating utility arrears up to $10,000 per household. So far, almost 115,000 Regular Arrears Supplement benefits have been issued, and $183 million in arrears have been paid off for eligible households. 
• $90 million in federal funding through Emergency HEAP was made available to help low- and middle-income New Yorkers avoid having their home heating disconnected or exhausting their heating source amid fuel price increases. Currently, $58 million in funding remains available to help low- and middle-income New Yorkers avoid having their home heating disconnected or exhausting their heating source amid fuel price increases this winter. 
• An increase the budget for the statewide Energy Affordability Policy program by the PSC in 2021 from $237.6 million to $366.7 million and expanded eligibility, resulting in about 95,000 more low-income customers that will be able to receive benefits. Since September 2021, approximately $183 million in bill discounts were issued by utilities to eligible customers. 
• Bill Payment Options: Residential consumers can inquire with their utility provider about billing options that allow for deferred payments or 'budget billing' to even out utility bills that are higher in one season and lower in another. This can help structure payments to make it easier to navigate costs. 
• For low-income households facing no-heat situations, OTDA is also accepting applications for its heating equipment repair or replacement benefit. Eligible homeowners can now apply for up to $3,000 for repair or $6,500 for replacement of a furnace, boiler or other direct heating equipment necessary to keep the household's primary heating source working. Additionally, eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment to allow for its safe and efficient operation. Interested households can apply with their local HEAP contact. 

  In addition to bill payment assistance, customers are also urged to enroll in energy efficiency programs to help reduce energy consumption, lower bills overtime, and improve the health, comfort, and safety of their home. Residents can learn more about available programs and resources at www.energyadvisor.ny.gov or https://hcr.ny.gov/weatherization. 

PSC Chair Rory M. Christian said, "While the PSC and the utilities cannot control supply prices, utilities can strengthen their communications to consumers to ensure they are offering all possible consumer protections and make them aware of every available assistance program." 

OTDA Acting Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz said, "The spike in energy prices has affected everyone but has been particularly difficult for low-income households, working families and older New Yorkers. The Home Energy Assistance Program can provide vital relief to eligible households that are facing a greater share of their family budgets going to their heating bills during these cold winter months." 

 Increased Consumer Education and Awareness

The PSC and DPS will continue to proactively warn customers of projected increases in supply prices, potential impacts to customers' utility bills, and the assistance programs that are available. These efforts, in coordination with the state's electric and gas utilities, will include press releases, newsletters, utility call center representative training, YouTube videos, and social media posts. 

Additionally, DPS and utilities will continue to remind customers about the consumer protections that are in place including under the New York State Home Energy Fair Practices Act, which has comprehensive protections for residential customers regarding their utility services. These rights include the option to pay bills in installments, a cap on late fees, sufficient notice prior to shut-off of services, and protections for those on a fixed income or with medical conditions. Learn about these from DPS at AskPSC. 

OTDA continues to work with its local government partners, utilities and heating fuel providers to ensure potentially eligible households are aware of assistance available to help New Yorkers cope with high heating costs.   

The PSC is committed to making sure customers are aware of these programs to receive the assistance and information they need to effectively manage their energy bills. For more information on winter preparedness efforts and these assistance programs, please go to www.dps.ny.gov/winter. To enroll in the Energy Affordability Policy utility bill discount program, customers should contact their individual utility: 

Con Edison Customers: Con Ed 

Orange & Rockland Customers: O&R

National Grid Customers: National Grid 

National Fuel Gas Customers: NFG

NYSEG Customers: NYSEG 

Rochester Gas & Electric Customers: RGE

PSEG-LI Customers: PSEG

Central Hudson Customers: CH 

For more information on OTDA's available assistance programs, please visit: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/