Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York will begin accepting Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) applications on Nov. 2, cited expanded income eligibility and last year’s distribution of 1.3 million benefits totaling $400 million, and urged residents to apply early.

The Seattle City Council unanimously passed Council Bill 121222 on July 14 to expand the Utility Discount Program by switching eligibility from state median income to area median income, adding prorated discounts and new reporting; sponsor estimated roughly 31,000 new households would gain eligibility immediately and up to 81,000 at higher thresholds.