Millions of New Yorkers will begin receiving one-time payments of up to $200 in September as the state launches its Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) program, a $1 billion effort aimed at easing energy-related costs.
The payments will go to eligible taxpayers based on their 2024 New York state income tax return, not their utility provider or monthly energy bills.
Rochester Residents Could Receive Up To $200 From POWER Checks
The amount residents receive depends on income and filing status.
Married couples filing jointly with income below $150,000 can receive $200, while couples with income between $150,000 and $300,000 can receive $150.
Eligible single filers, heads of household and other qualifying taxpayers with income below $150,000 can receive $100.
The state does not require residents to apply separately. Payments will be sent automatically to taxpayers who meet the program requirements.
Eligibility And Payment Details
According to RochesterFirst, the new payments are expected to reach many taxpayers across the Rochester area, though the state has not released a city-by-city breakdown showing how many checks will go to communities such as Rochester, Greece, Irondequoit or Brighton.
New York’s available tax data can provide a broad picture of local incomes and taxpayer numbers, but the most recent detailed community information covers the 2023 tax year. The POWER program uses 2024 tax returns, making an exact local estimate unavailable at this time.
Utility Customers Do Not Need To Apply For The Rebate
The POWER program is not connected to specific utility companies.
Residents do not need to be customers of RG&E, NYSEG or another energy provider to qualify. The state designed the payments around taxpayer eligibility rather than utility account information.
Lawmakers said during discussions of the program that the checks would go directly to qualifying taxpayers rather than being applied to utility bills.
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Payments Will Arrive Between September And December 2026
Eligible New Yorkers must generally have filed a timely 2024 New York resident income tax return, lived in the state full time during the tax year, meet income requirements and not have been claimed as another taxpayer’s dependent.
The state expects to mail POWER checks between September and December 2026.
Officials estimate that about 8.2 million New Yorkers will receive payments through the program, which was included in the state’s 2026-27 budget.
New York will begin mailing POWER checks in September 2026 and continue sending them through December 2026.
