Protect New Yorkers Against Utility Shutoffs!

New York’s utility arrears crisis has ensnared more than 1.2 million households in New York, leaving them owing more than $1.7 billion combined in energy bill payments, and an unknown number of people owing hundreds of millions on their telephone, water, and high-speed internet bills.

Without action from state lawmakers, shutoffs could begin any day, potentially leaving more than a million homes without heat, hot water, or lights. With the state budget being finalized, now is the time for lawmakers to address this crisis.

Please urge the Governor and your state lawmakers to dedicate sufficient resources to the state budget to help struggling New Yorkers out of this crisis.

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Dear Decision Maker,

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I urge Governor Hochul and the State Legislature to help the 1.2 million households who are currently in arrears on their energy bills, as well as the unknown number of people owing hundreds of millions for their telephone, water, and high-speed internet bills by dedicating sufficient resources in the final state budget to fully address the arrears crisis.

The state can help these struggling New Yorkers keep the lights on by appropriating $725 million – just 6% of the $12.5 billion in recent American Rescue Plan (“ARP”) funds the state has received – to address most of the pandemic-related energy utility arrears  and provide tax breaks for non-energy utilities that forgive low- and fixed-income households’ arrears.

As you negotiate the final details of the state budget, don’t leave over a million households in the dark. Please ensure New Yorkers struggling with their utility bills as a result of the economic impacts of the pandemic can keep their heat, electricity, and other vital services on by dedicating sufficient resources in the state budget to fully address the arrears crisis.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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