New York just expanded eligibility for its utility bill discount program to 1.6M more households. But…there’s a big but. (Syracuse)
The catch? Lawmakers didn’t provide any state funding to pay for the new subsidies. So utilities will have to raise rates to cover the cost—meaning ratepayers will foot the bill.
Advocates say the move helps on paper, but without state funding, it shifts the burden onto low-income customers who may still fall through the cracks…or end up subsidizing other customers’ bills.