NYPA was granted authority to work with the state Public Service Commission (PSC) to establish the Renewable Energy Access and Community Help (REACH) program to provide renewable energy bill credits to low-income New Yorkers.

It will help support disadvantaged communities by enabling low-and moderate-income electricity consumers to receive bill credits through the production of renewable energy products developed by or for NYPA and other funding sources.

More specifically, under REACH, NYPA, either alone or with partners, will develop a portfolio of renewable energy generation projects and distribute a portion of the revenue from these projects to the state’s investor-owned utilities. They will use these funds to generate bill credits for middle- and/or low-income energy consumers in disadvantaged communities.

Bill credits will be distributed by the state’s investor-owned utilities. The PSC will, as part of REACH, issue an order specifying the particulars about how this will be done.

In January 2024, NYPA filed a petition with the PSC to begin the process of establishing the REACH program. 

In October, the PSC approved NYPA's request and established a regulatory framework to allow electric utilities to receive funds from the Power Authority to credit the electric bills of low-income ratepayers in disadvantaged communities.

NYPA will implement REACH with the Department of Public Service and the utilities according to the order, including arrangements to fund REACH bill credits as project revenues become available.

Read the NYPA Report on Feasibility and Advisability of REACH-like program for Municipal and Rural Cooperative Utilities here.

If you have questions or would like more information, email us at REACH.nypa.gov.