Scarsdale, Bronxville and Eastchester households could receive energy rebate checks of up to $200 starting Monday, Sept. 21, as New York State begins mailing payments to about 8.2 million homes statewide.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the timeline Sept. 14 as part of the one-time, $1 billion Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) program, included in the state budget. Checks will continue going out through December.
Residents do not need to apply, register or sign up. The state will automatically mail checks based on 2024 tax filings.
Who qualifies
To receive a POWER check, a person must have:
- Filed a timely 2024 New York State resident income tax return
- Been a full-time New York State resident during tax year 2024
- Reported income within the program's thresholds
- Not been claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer's return
How much
The check amount depends on filing status and income, according to the governor's office:
- Married filing jointly, income under $150,000: $200
- Married filing jointly, income $150,000 to $300,000: $150
- Single filers, income under $150,000: $100
The state has not published a breakdown of how many Westchester County households fall within those brackets.
Why now
Hochul's office cited federal tariffs and the war in Iran as factors driving up the cost of living. The state said the average New York gas price has reached $4.35 per gallon, a 45% increase since the war began at the end of February. Diesel has climbed 49% to $5.98 per gallon, according to WBNG.
New York's residential electricity prices were 29.93 cents per kilowatt-hour in May, the third-highest in the country behind Hawaii and California and 62% above the national average, the New York Post reported.
"Too many families are struggling with rising household energy bills and soaring gas prices at the pump … and that's why we're putting money directly back in New Yorkers' pockets," Hochul said in the Sept. 14 announcement.
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Commissioner Amanda Hiller said her agency is working to get relief to eligible families as quickly as possible. The first batch enters the mail Sept. 21, but deliveries will stretch through December, so not every eligible household will receive a check at the same time.
The state budget also creates a RATES Commission to investigate the causes of rising utility bills and review energy market designs.
