New York’s $1 Billion POWER Rebates Are Moving Toward Fall Payments
New York’s enacted FY 2026-27 budget provides automatic $100-to-$200 POWER rebate checks for eligible taxpayers whose 2024 state returns meet the residency, income and filing-status rules. The state expects to mail checks from September through December 2026.
New York’s enacted FY 2026-27 budget includes $1 billion for one-time Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate, or POWER, checks. State officials say eligible taxpayers should receive the automatic payments during a mailing window that runs from September through December 2026.
The state has not announced one delivery date for every household. A check mailed later in the fall would still be within the official distribution period.
What the budget authorized
The enacted budget sets aside $1 billion for POWER checks intended to provide one-time energy-cost relief. New York Assembly materials estimate that about 8.2 million New Yorkers may receive payments; that figure is an estimate rather than a final verified recipient count.
The program is separate from ongoing utility-assistance programs. The published eligibility rules are based on state tax information, not proof that a resident currently has a utility account or submission of a utility bill.
Who qualifies
Eligibility is determined from a taxpayer’s 2024 New York State resident income-tax return. Under the state’s published rules, the taxpayer must have filed a timely 2024 return, been a full-time New York resident for tax year 2024, reported income within the applicable threshold and not been claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return.
The rebate is not available to every New Yorker. Residents who did not meet the 2024 filing, residency, income or dependent-status requirements should not assume they will receive a check.
How much residents may receive
The payment amount depends on 2024 filing status and income:
- $200: joint filers with 2024 income below $150,000.
- $150: joint filers with 2024 income from $150,000 to $300,000.
- $100: single filers, heads of household and other qualifying non-joint filers with 2024 income below $150,000.
The State Tax Department is expected to identify eligible recipients automatically using filing status and income information. No application is required.
When checks are expected
New York officials say POWER checks will be mailed between September and December 2026. That is a statewide mailing period, not a promise that every household will receive its check in September or on the same date.
Residents who qualify but do not receive a check early in the fall may still be within the state’s announced distribution window. The state may provide additional administrative details as the mailing process approaches.
What residents should do now
Residents should confirm that their 2024 New York resident tax return was filed and keep their mailing information current through official New York tax channels. The published program rules do not require a separate application or utility-bill submission.
Residents should be cautious about unsolicited calls, emails or text messages requesting bank-account information, fees or payment to release a POWER check. The automatic program does not require an application fee.
Fiscal context and next steps
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s July 15, 2026 report on the enacted budget lists $1 billion in tax refund checks intended to help with high utility prices. The report also says the state’s projected cumulative out-year budget gaps total $31.8 billion, reserves remain approximately $15 billion and the state expects to draw down $1.3 billion in General Fund balance by the end of State Fiscal Year 2027.
Those fiscal concerns do not change the POWER eligibility rules or payment amounts. The immediate next step is administrative: the state must use 2024 tax-return data to identify eligible recipients and carry out the September-through-December mailing process.
Sources
- Governor Hochul's energy affordability package announcement
- New York State Assembly POWER rebate announcement
- New York State Comptroller report on the SFY 2027 enacted budget
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