What the HEAP is going on? N.Y. to reopen energy assistance applications

And the CDPAP transition continues ... slowly.

Good afternoon — it’s Friday and National Peanut Butter Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• N.Y. will reopen applications for the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program after they were abruptly closed this week. Here’s what happened.

• New York’s CDPAP transition is plugging along, though not at a rate that will match the state’s April 1 deadline. Here’s the latest.

• Here’s what’s scheduled at the Capitol for Monday.

• Eyes & Ears: my weekly roundup of content from other outlets that you don’t want to miss.

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🔥 N.Y. has closed applications for energy assistance months earlier than last year

The Home Energy Assistance Program is funded by the federal government to help low-income residents in New York pay their energy bills. The idea is to help people keep the heat on in the winter.

But as temperatures plunged below 0° this week, the state cut off the program for new applicants. The $360 million given to the state for the program this year had apparently run dry. Applications close when that happens each year.

The application period closed last year on April 12 — nearly three months later than this year’s cutoff on Tuesday.

But I come bearing good, late-breaking news: applications for HEAP will reopen tomorrow, Jan. 25, a spokeswoman for Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday.

“Following a shortfall in federal funding that resulted in the temporary closure of regular HEAP applications, Gov. Hochul stepped in to reallocate $35 million in funds and ensure that regular HEAP will remain open to continue to provide heat assistance for New Yorkers,” said Hochul’s spokeswoman Avery Cohen.

“The governor will never stop working to put money back in the pockets of New Yorkers – no matter how cold it gets,” she added.

So, what happened? I made another call and learned a little bit more about how that all shook out this week.