Governor Kathy Hochul announced three initiatives designed to reduce energy burden for households most impacted by rising energy prices. First, the state will offer $200 million in bill relief to help households with incomes less than $75,000 pay their monthly electricity bills. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is also launching a new pilot program, EmPower Plus, which will help approximately 20,000 low-income households retrofit their homes through efficiency, weatherization, and electrification measures. The pilot program expands on NYSERDA’s existing EmPower program and is the first in the nation to guarantee participants' electricity bills do not exceed six percent of their household income. Finally, Governor Hochul directed the state's Low-Income Energy Task Force, which includes agencies responsible for delivering energy affordability programs across the state, to take immediate actions to better coordinate and streamline administration in order to expand access to program benefits. Together, these strategies will help the state lower emissions while ensuring affordability and improving home comfort and health for low-income New Yorkers.