A workshop to help Central Hudson customers who need help with their bills will be held tomorrow evening from 6-8 p.m. at the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County, 507 Broadway.

Communities for Local Power and the Public Utility Law Project are hosting the workshop to help directly impacted customers apply for the state’s Low-Income Electric and Gas Debt Relief Program. The deadline to apply is Dec. 31.

According to Communities for Local Power, more than 1.3 million New York households are currently behind on their electric and gas utility bills and owe over $1.5 billion collectively, a situation worsened due to high inflation and volatile fossil fuel prices. In June, the state Public Service Commission adopted a $557 million statewide program to provide COVID-19 utility bill relief for low-income electric and natural gas utility customers. Low-income residential customers enrolled in their utility’s EAP program will have any debts for service received through May 1, 2022 forgiven in full.

To learn more about qualifying programs, please visit CLP’s Resources Page.

Trained advocates from PULP and CLP will help residents check their utility bill to see if they’re enrolled in Central Hudson’s low-income monthly bill discount program. Representatives from the state Department of Public Service and county Department of Social Services will be on hand for questions and comments. Snacks, filing assistance and postage to send in applications will be provided for free. The event is part of a series of workshops happening throughout the Hudson Valley and the state, including at the Newburgh Free Library on Dec. 8 from 5-7 p.m.