ny-PSC-38-26-00011-P: EnergyAffordability Program budgets

I.D. No. PSC-38-26-00011-P PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Pro- cedureAct, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule: Proposed Action: The Commission is considering multiple petitions by various utilities requesting a temporary increase in their budget caps pertaining to their EnergyAffordability Programs. Statutory authority: Public Service Law, sections 4(1), 5(1)(b), (2), 65(1), (2), (3), 66(1) and (2) Subject: EnergyAffordability Program budgets. Purpose: To consider a temporary budget cap increase for EnergyAfford- ability Programs for multiple utilities. Substance of proposed rule: The Public Service Commission (Commis- sion) is considering three petitions filed on November 4, 2025, April 24, 2026, and June 30, 2026, by National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel), The Brooklyn Union Gas Company d/b/a National Grid NY (KEDNY), and Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (Orange and Rockland), respectively. National Fuel, KEDNY, and Orange and Rock- land (collectively, the Companies) request a temporary increase in the budget cap for their EnergyAffordability Programs (EAPs). National Fuel seeks an increase for its program year beginning December 1, 2025, while KEDNY and Orange and Rockland seek an increase for their program years beginning December 1, 2026. The EAP and the Enhanced Energy Affordability Program (EEAP) provide bill credits to low- and moderate-income customers of natural gas and electric utilities, aiming to limit the percentage of their income these customers spend on utility payments. In their petitions, the Companies seek to increase their EAP budget cap by 0.5 percent, raising the cap from 2.5 percent to 3.0 percent of the Companies’ total annual revenues. The Companies explain that such an increase is permitted by the Commis- sion’s Order Adopting Enhanced Energy Affordability Policy and Direct- ing Utility Filings, issued July 17, 2025, in Cases 14-M-0565, et al., provided that their requests are filed prior to the upcoming program year and can demonstrate that their EAP budgets will exceed the established cap. The Companies ask the Commission to grant the requested relief in an expedited manner as a means of protecting the general welfare of New York State’s low-income electric and gas utility customers. Rule MakingActivities The full text of the petitions and full record of the proceeding may be reviewed online at the Department of Public Service web page: www.dps.ny.gov. The Commission may adopt, reject or modify, in whole or in part, the action proposed and may resolve related matters. Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained by filing a Document Request Form (F-96) located on our website http://www.dps.ny.gov/f96dir.htm. For questions, contact: Beth Faranda, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, (518) 474-5306, email: beth.faranda@dps.ny.gov Data, views or arguments may be submitted to: Michell