Improves Access to Energy Programs for Low-to-Moderate Income New York Families

April 14, 2022

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced the launch of the NY Energy Advisor website, designed to streamline the awareness of and access to clean energy programs and energy assistance for low-to moderate income households in New York State. Today's announcement supports New York State's ambitious clean energy and climate goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) including delivering at least 35 percent of the benefits, with a goal of 40 percent, from clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities, ensuring an equitable clean energy transition for all New Yorkers.

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA said, “As New York State addresses climate change and continues to move forward with its green energy transition, it’s imperative that low-to-moderate income residents are able to benefit from energy-saving programs and resources – and that means providing the tools needed to improve access and awareness to these incredibly important services. The NY Energy Advisor website reflects a partnership with utilities and a commitment to ensure all New Yorkers can directly benefit from energy-saving programs and participate in our clean energy future.”

The NY Energy Advisor website Link opens in new window - close new window to return to this page. is the result of a joint initiative between NYSERDA and New York State utilities, including Central Hudson Gas and Electric, Consolidated Edison (Con Edison), National Fuel Gas, National Grid, New York State Electric and Gas Orange and Rockland, PSEG Long Island, and Rochester Gas and Electric to better serve low-to-moderate income consumers across New York State. The site provides easy and efficient access to energy programs and services, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy education materials, that are available to New Yorkers based on individual eligibility criteria without searching for assistance on multiple websites. It also serves affordable property owners and managers by providing access to information on energy efficiency programs and services that may benefit their properties. Through the NY Energy Advisor website, customers are able to connect to programs such as EmPower NY, Solar for All, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and Assisted Home Performance with Energy Star, among others.

Specifically, the new website will provide easy access to:

  • Details on programs and services offered in each region of the state;
  • Information on the benefits of participating in energy programs;
  • Direct links to program applications;
  • Contact information for community outreach representatives; and
  • Additional links to more helpful programs and resources based on income.

In addition, the website features a translator tool with specific pre-translated URLs to make the site accessible to non-English speaking customers.

As a companion to the website, a toolkit is also available to optimize the use of this resource by outreach partners and community-based groups helping to broaden access to cost-savings and energy improvement incentive programs, good practices for lowering energy bills, and other assistance available. The toolkit is now available for download.

Vice President of Customer Services and Gas Operations at Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. Anthony Campagiorni said, “Ensuring energy efficiency resources and programs are understood and available to all residents is critical as we move forward to a more sustainable energy future. The NY Energy Advisor website does just that.”

Director of Energy Efficiency and Demand Management Programs for Con Edison Gregory Elcock said, “NY Energy Advisor will place more control in the hands of New Yorkers who want a greater role in managing their energy usage. It will be particularly helpful to our low-to moderate-income customers by providing them with resources and information on our energy efficiency programs and programs to reduce their energy bills. The NY Energy Advisor will be a great tool to help reach low- to moderate-income customers and increase the number of households we are able to serve.”

President of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation Donna L. DeCarolis said, “Improvements in building energy efficiency are the most cost-effective way to realize meaningful and immediate reductions in residential emissions. The NY Energy Advisor portal is an important initiative that ensures all New Yorkers, regardless of income level or housing situation, can access energy efficiency programs that will lower household emissions and improve affordability.”

National Grid Vice President of Product Growth, Marketing, and Customer Strategy Nicole Howard said: “We want to make it easy for all customers to manage their energy bills. The New York Energy Adviser platform is a gateway to energy affordability and efficiency programs for our customers that may not know where to look, as well as all New Yorkers looking for tools to reduce their energy usage and spending.”

President and CEO of New York State Electric and Gas and Rochester Gas and Electric Carl A. Taylor said, “NYSEG and RG&E provide a number of assistance programs and energy efficiency opportunities for income-eligible customers and we are pleased that information about our programs as well as state services will be available all in one centralized location. This online tool will help make it even easier for customers to access the resources that are available to them.”

President and CEO of Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., Robert Sanchez said, “NY Energy Advisor is a user-friendly tool available online to help New Yorkers discover energy-related assistance programs they may be eligible for. If you are looking for help on your energy bills, low-cost tips to keep your house more comfortable, or no-cost advice on saving energy, check out NY Energy Advisor."

Environmental and Climate Justice Committee Chair for the NAACP New York State Conference Mari da Silva said, “As New York works to responsibly phase out the use of unclean energy to power our homes, it’s crucial for the State to make green power affordable for every household, regardless of race, income, or location. The Energy Advisor website is an incredibly useful tool for vulnerable New Yorkers to access the programs they need to afford energy and stay in their homes. I’m excited to see this website utilized as part of New York’s equitable transition to a healthy and sustainable energy system.”

The NY Energy Advisor website was created in accordance with the New Efficiency New York Order. Funding for the website is part of New York's nearly $1 billion investment to increase access to energy efficiency and clean energy solutions for disadvantaged communities.

The NY Energy Advisor website builds on recent $36 million initiative to support low-to-moderate income families to establish and support Regional Clean Energy Hubs as centers of outreach, awareness, and education in each of the ten Regional Economic Development Council regions to improve community engagement.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Act

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

About NYSERDA

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on TwitterLink opens in new window - close new window to return to this page., FacebookLink opens in new window - close new window to return to this page., YouTubeLink opens in new window - close new window to return to this page., or InstagramLink opens in new window - close new window to return to this page..