Enhanced Energy Affordability Program (EEAP)

The Enhanced Energy Affordability Program (EEAP) is a 2-year pilot program that offers discounts to reduce energy costs for low- and moderate-income households. Eligible households receive a fixed monthly discount on their energy bills. 

To qualify, you must:

• Have an active residential electric or gas account with Central Hudson.
• Have a household income at or below 100% of State Median Income  (see threshold amounts below).
• Provide complete documentation of your entire household’s income for the last month.
• Not be currently enrolled in the Energy Affordability Program (EAP).

New York State Median Income (SMI)

Required documents

1. You’ll need to upload a recent Central Hudson bill (includes Central Hudson name, account holder name, account number, and service address) from the last 3 months only if the account number you enter doesn’t match our system. If you’ve updated your account information recently, please allow 48 hours for those changes to appear before applying. 
2. Proof of income earned in the past month for all household members such as pay stubs, Social Security or pension statements, self-employment records, or other acceptable forms of proof (see below for details).

Before You Begin Your Application

• Make sure photos of your documents are clear and readable. Be sure to take photos of all pages.
• If you have questions or need help filling out an application, support is available at 877-400-2501.

To apply for EEAP benefits, visit www.CenHud.nyeeap.com or call 877-400-2501. To apply by mail, use this form. 

Benefit amounts

Customers may receive multiple credits depending on type of energy service. 

Additional information

What counts as income?

The following types of income are considered countable. You need to provide documentation of these income sources, covering a full month. If you are unsure of whether you need to provide documentation, you should provide the documentation, and our team can assess.

• Gross wages and salaries (before deductions)
• Commissions (before deductions)
• Per diem income (e.g., jury duty, poll worker, exam proctor)
• Net profit from self-employment after allowable deductions
• Net profit from rent after allowable deductions
• Social Security payments
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI), including payments paid to or on behalf of full-time dependent students
• Railroad Retirement benefits
• Retroactive lump sums for Social Security, SSI, or Railroad Retirement which can be prorated over a specific period of time
• Unemployment insurance benefits (UIB), Striker benefits from union funds, workers’ compensation payments, and disability payments
• Veteran’s benefits, including disability payments, and veteran’s survivor’s benefits
• Pensions and payments from insurance and annuities
• Alimony/Spousal Support
• Child support payments, court ordered amount or actual amount received if less
• Military family allotments and housing allowance to military personnel
• Regular cash support from family or someone not living in the household
• Dividends & interest
• Royalties
• Income from estates or trusts
• Interest portion of mortgage/land contract payments received by the household
• Disbursements from IRAs and 401Ks
• Severance pay

What income is excluded?

The following income is EXCLUDED from income calculations. You do not need to provide documentation of this income. If you do provide documentation of this income, we will not count it toward your household’s income total.

• Reimbursement for expenses, including, but not limited to, medical and/or employment
• Loans, including student loans
• Bonuses, including, but not limited to, holiday, performance, or quarterly
• College/post-secondary school grants and scholarships funds, including stipends issued as part of a fellowship grant
• Earned income of minors
• One-time lump sum payments, such as sale of real property or insurance settlements
• Funds drawn from crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe, Indiegogo, Fundanything, GiveForward, and other fundraising platforms
• Medicare premium Part B deducted from monthly Social Security benefit and Part D Medicare premium
• Irregular and/or infrequent income that does not exceed $30 over a three month period
• Interest accrued on IRAs, 401Ks or other retirement benefits that have not been distributed
• Adoption subsidy payments & payments for foster children
• Tax refunds/tax credits, including Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) payments
• Reverse mortgage or home equity payments
• Special energy assistance payments, cash or in-kind, provided by an energy company or a non-profit agency
• In-kind contributions

What is considered a month of documents?

To accommodate different payment cycles, you can provide documents that are dated within the last full month and the current month.

The documents must cover at least 28 consecutive days for each income source:

1. 4 paystubs if you are paid every week
2. 2 paystubs if you are paid every two weeks
3. 2 paystubs if you are paid twice a month
4. 1 paystub or document if you are paid once a month

If you receive income from more than one source or job, provide documentation for each income source.

What types of documents are valid proof of income?

Any document that shows the name of the payer, the payee, the gross amount and date(s) of payment is accepted.

• For employment, provide paystubs that show the gross income before deductions.
• For government benefits, provide your most recent award letter.
• For self-employment income, provide documentation of revenue and expenses.

Who do I count in my household?

A household is any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economic unit and share energy costs.

Can I apply if I am a renter?

Renters can apply, as long as someone in your household’s name is on the Central Hudson account (i.e., your account is not in the name of your landlord or leasing company).

How quickly do I need to provide my supporting documentation?

You have 14 days after application to submit all required documentation. If you do not submit all required information by that time, your application will be rejected. You can apply again once you can provide all supporting documentation.

I was rejected - what are my options?

You can re-apply if your situation has changed or you were denied for not providing all supporting documentation and now can do so. If you are not eligible for EEAP, review these other assistance and payment options that may be available to you.

What happens once I am approved?

Once your application is approved, you will receive the EEAP discount within your next two billing cycles and a letter from Central Hudson stating the discount amount that will be applied. If you do not see your discount after the next two billing cycles, please contact us.

How long am I enrolled if I am approved?

Your account will remain enrolled in EEAP for 18 months after approval.

Do I need to apply separately if I have accounts with multiple utilities?

Yes, you will need to apply separately for each utility provider (electric and/or natural gas). 

What happens if I move to an area served by another utility provider?

If you move within the state of New York, you can reapply for EEAP when you receive your new utility account number.