Consumer advocates are calling on the state to pay off ballooning debt with federal funding.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- At least 1.4 million households and other residential customers in New York are behind on electric and natural gas bills - a number that soared during the pandemic - and consumer advocates are calling on the state to pay off their ballooning debt with federal funding.
Ourso signed up for a payment plan but doesn't know whether utilities will reimburse her payments when the state releases the aid."It's definitely been very frustrating," she said. Groups including the AARP and the Public Utility Law Project are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to dedicate $1.25 billion in this year's budget for unpaid energy bills and $400 million for water bills. Advocates also want $200 million in tax credits to forgive water, telephone and internet bills.
New Jersey has spent about $30 million of $250 million lawmakers set aside last year for residential utility debt, which has also more than doubled in that state during the pandemic.
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