As Heat Wave Hits, NYers Urge Gov. to Sign Bill To Repeal Costly Gas Mandate and Save Ratepayers $200M/Year

ALBANY, NY (06/23/2025) (readMedia)-- Today, as the summer's first heat wave pummels New York, advocates across New York's climate movement rallied with Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon to praise the passage of legislation that repeals the expensive, outdated 100-foot rule subsidy, which requires utilities to raise New Yorkers' energy bills to pay for the expansion of fracked gas infrastructure. Ending the 100-foot rule subsidy is a major priority for environmental advocates that will lower families' energy bills and fight climate change. Thankfully, the Senate and Assembly delivered on it - and now, the Governor can finish the job by signing the bill into law.

Watch the press conference here.

"Ending the 100-foot rule is a major victory for families struggling to pay their energy bills, and a long-overdue step towards transitioning away from the expensive, outdated gas system New Yorkers are forced to pay for. As we brace for another hot, unbearable summer, New Yorkers have been counting on Albany to pass legislation that saves them money and moves us to a cleaner, more affordable future. We are incredibly thankful to the Senate and Assembly for answering their call and taking action, and we look forward to seeing the Governor finish the job by signing this bill into law," said Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate at Earthjustice.

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. 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. At the same time, the Trump administration has threatened federal energy affordability programs, making state action even more essential.

Repealing the 100-foot rule subsidy removes the mandate that utility customers pay for the cost of new hookups to the gas system. The bill is the most significant legislation passed this year to address New York's energy affordability crisis, and will save New Yorkers nearly $200 million every year once Governor Hochul signs it into law.

Last year, New Yorkers across the state suffered from a series of extreme climate-change fueled heat waves and dangerous weather. Repealing the 100-foot rule will help reduce fossil fuel emissions from New York's dirty, dangerous gas system, which is driving climate change and making heat waves worse. As extreme heat becomes more common and more deadly, New Yorkers need energy policies that reduce pollution and lower their energy bills.

"As we brace for New York's first 100-degree day of the year, what better opportunity for the governor to sign the 100-ft rule repeal, and provide relief for New Yorkers' gas utility costs as well as action to fight the climate crisis that will lead to many more dangerous scorchers like this. This bill will save New York gas customers $200 million every year, and ensure that you are no longer forced, without any choice, to pay for your neighbor's new gas hookup, at an average cost of over $14,000 in National Grid's NYC territory. This bill is smart policy that delivers for New Yorkers on affordability and climate action, and I urge the governor to sign it soon," said Senator Liz Krueger.

"The Legislature's repeal of the 100-foot rule is an important step in New York's transition to clean energy, and it's especially good news for New York families who have been forced to subsidize new fossil fuel infrastructure to the tune of some $200 million each year. With New Yorkers facing another summer of extreme heat driven by climate change, we urge Governor Hochul to sign this commonsense and cost-saving measure immediately," said Jon Furlong, Clean Building Campaigns Manager for the New York League of Conservation Voters.

"As we continue to face unbearable heat and high energy bills, both brought on by the fossil fuel industry, Governor Hochul has the responsibility to sign the only bill that will come to her desk this year that tackles both climate change and the cost of energy," said Jessica Azulay, Executive Director of Alliance for a Green Economy.

"These record-breaking extreme heat waves provide us all with a stark reminder of why legislation addressing high energy bills and the climate crisis are so urgently needed," said Michael Hernandez, Rewiring America's New York Policy Director. "We applaud the legislature for taking action to provide relief to New Yorkers from both high energy costs and high temperatures."

"We applaud the New York Legislature for repealing the outdated 100-foot rule gas line subsidy, an important step forward for affordability and smart utility planning," said Allison Considine, Senior Campaign Manager for NY at the Building Decarbonization Coalition. "This reform will save New Yorkers money by eliminating a costly, fossil fuel-era incentive that burdened ratepayers and slowed the state's clean energy transition. As New Yorkers face rising energy bills and try to keep cool in this heat wave, it's never been more clear that we need strong legislative leadership to advance wins like this that get at the causes and consequences of climate change, and we urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill swiftly to deliver this win for New Yorkers."

"As yet another stifling heat wave bears down on New York, the need for climate solutions that leave fossil fuels in the ground and support clean, green energy is clear. Gas customers, many of whom are struggling to afford skyrocketing utility bills, have been footing the bill for dirty gas expansion for too long. We applaud the Legislature for ending the "100 foot" subsidy for the fossil fuel industry for gas hookups and urge Governor Hochul to sign the bill without delay," said Megan Ahearn, NYPIRG's Executive Director.

"Governor Hochul must not surrender to Trump's fossil fuel agenda," said Kim Fraczek, Director of Sane Energy Project. "Communities like ours in North Brooklyn have suffered generational cancers, kidney and renal failure caused by outdated 19th-century infrastructure like National Grid's LNG facility. But we've also built a vision of clean, affordable, community-led energy solutions that meet the realities of 21st-century climate chaos. We need clarity, stability, and local clean energy. Signing A8888/S8417 is a critical first step toward that future."

"During this dangerous heatwave, New Yorkers need to know that new, upgraded renewable energy technologies like thermal energy networks can provide affordable heating AND life-saving air conditioning to entire neighborhoods. Governor Hochul should sign the repeal of the 100 foot rule into law ASAP because it is a step in the right direction of upgraded, life-saving critical energy infrastructure for the buildings sector in New York." said Gabe Rechio, Building Electrification Campaign Organizer for the Sierra Club.