Advocates Applaud Gov. Hochul For Signaling Openness To 100-foot Rule Repeal

ALBANY, NY (10/07/2025) (readMedia)-- Yesterday, Newsday reported that Governor Hochul is considering signing legislation to repeal the 100-foot rule, with the caveat that the bill has a one-year delay before taking effect. In response, organizations including the Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE), Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC), Earthjustice, New Yorkers for Clean Power, Rewiring America, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice issued the following statement:

"We are very pleased to see Governor Hochul is serious about reining in utilities and helping the millions of New Yorkers struggling to afford their energy bills. Getting rid of the 100-foot rule is a common-sense, straightforward way to save families money, and is crucial to helping transition us off of the expensive fracked gas that millions of households already can't afford.

As the Trump administration guts energy affordability programs and tries to kill our renewable energy future, Governor Hochul has an opportunity to stand up to Trump and protect New Yorkers from even higher energy bills. Thankfully, the Legislature already passed this bill and now the Governor can finish the job!"

Governor Hochul's reported interest in repealing the 100-foot rule comes as a new report shows utilities are raking in record profits off of New Yorkers. According to the report, the state's largest utility companies increased their profits by over 63% since 2015 - in large part by expanding the same gas system that is already too expensive for everyday people.

Repealing the 100-foot rule is the sole legislation on the Governor's desk to address New York's energy affordability crisis and climate pollution at the same time. By signing this legislation into law, Governor Hochul can follow other states like California, Massachusetts and others who are ending similar subsidies for utilities and save New Yorkers an estimated $200 million every year on their energy bills.

Background

As the cost of building and maintaining our aging gas infrastructure continues to rise, utilities across the state have raised rates to pass those costs onto customers and keep us hooked on a fracked gas system that is already unaffordable. Since 2022, every major New York gas utility has raised costs on consumers, causing more than 1.2 million families to fall behind on their energy bills.

Today, 1 in 4 New York households cannot afford their energy bills, and according to an estimate from the Alliance for a Green Economy. At the same time, the Trump administration has cut LIHEAP, a crucial energy assistance program which New York relies on more than any other state, and suspended the federal Weatherization Assistance Program - both of which help fill the gaps and reduce energy costs for low-income households.

As energy bills continue to rise across the country, other states are considering ending similar subsidies for gas utilities. In August, Massachusetts state regulators issued an order to end their own version of the 100-foot rule, joining California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Maryland as the first states to repeal outdated gas mandates that cost ratepayers more money.