B-roll, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Meets With Brooklyn Residents to Highlight State Energy Affordability Program

Governor Kathy Hochul today met with Brooklyn residents to highlight the State's Energy Affordability Program (EAP). While one million households statewide are already enrolled in the EAP, the State estimates that approximately 2.5 million more households are eligible to enroll for monthly discounts - including many that are now eligible due to Governor Hochul's expansion of program eligibility. Depending on household income, the EAP can help New Yorkers save up to hundreds of dollars per year on utility costs, with discounts set to make a typical utility bill less than six percent of household income. To learn more, go to NY.gov/eap.

B-ROLL of the Governor highlighting her energy affordability program is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

AUDIO: The Governor's remarks are available in audio form here.

PHOTOS: The Governor's Flickr page will post photos of the event here.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

I'm here at the Flatbush YMCA to talk about our energy affordability initiatives. I'm joined by the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Rory Christian, as well as Senator Kevin Parker, who represents the city. We're here because I want to make sure that all New Yorkers know the two programs that we're making available to help people cover the cost of utility bills.

We know the stress that families are under. We know how hard it is to make ends meet. We know what it's like to get those bills at the end of the month, and we're just trying to make it a little bit easier with $200 checks - upward of $200 checks coming out in the mail in the next few weeks for qualified individuals; 8.2 million New Yorkers will benefit from this.

But also, just over the course of a year, you could save up to $500 with the signing up for this Energy Assistance Program that we've made available. And it was before it was available for just lower income individuals. We've upped the game, so people earning up well over $100,000 will be eligible as well.

So, everybody needs to get the information, sign up and the check's in the mail.