ALBANY, N.Y. – Twenty-nine organizations including AARP New York have signed a letter (reprinted in full below) to Governor Kathy Hochul urging her to approve ‘data matching’ legislation that would help over 800,000 struggling New York households pay their utility bills.
The legislation would ensure that utility customers who meet eligibility standards are enrolled in utility companies’ Energy Assistance Programs (EAPs), which provide utility bill paying assistance to keep customers’ energy burden at or below 6% of household income.
Bill S4548/A4876, sponsored by Senate Energy & Telecommunications Committee Chair Kevin Parker, and Black, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus Chair Assembly Member Michaelle Solages, would require the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to generate lists of beneficiaries of OTDA-administered programs who are also eligible for utility companies’ affordability programs and share that data with the utilities. New York City already matches benefits data in this way. The state legislation would standardize this process statewide, with all utilities participating.
“This bill is common sense; the data exists to match New Yorkers to the benefits they qualify for, so there’s no reason not to do so,” said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. “New York City is already successfully conducting this sensible data matching. The Governor should sign this bill to expand that practice statewide. Ultimately, the State should apply this concept to more benefits programs. Enacting the Parker-Solages bill into law would be a great first step.” […]
Click here to read the full piece. This story was originally published by AARP on October 26, 2023.
