As Utility Bills Soar & Trump Cuts Energy Aid, NYers Rally Outside Assembly NYC Office to Demand NY HEAT Act

NEW YORK, NY (04/04/2025) (readMedia)-- Today, New Yorkers gathered outside the Assembly's NYC offices with their high energy bills to demand the Assembly pass the NY HEAT Act in this year's budget. The rally comes as National Grid again raises gas rates on everyday families - and just days after the Trump administration cuts support for critical energy affordability programs that millions of New Yorkers rely on. The NY HEAT Act would limit the amount households are forced to pay for heat, alleviate rate hikes like the ones from National Grid, and save families who need help most an average of $136 each month on their bills. The Senate already passed the bill - now it's on the Assembly to deliver for families in need.

Watch a recording of the event here.

"Energy bills are already skyrocketing, and now millions of New Yorkers are at risk of losing their ability to pay their energy bills. The Assembly can continue to sit by and watch as families across the state fall further behind, or they can protect their constituents by passing the NY HEAT Act and lowering their bills. The Senate already did their part. Now it's up to the State Assembly to deliver relief for families in need and pass the NY HEAT Act now," said John Raskin, President of Spring Street Climate Fund.

"I already have to pay $200/month to heat our small apartment, and National Grid's continued rate hikes will crush me and my fiancé. It shouldn't be a luxury to keep the heat on. The Assembly needs to pass the NY HEAT Act NOW!" said Jason Kulczyk, Organizer at Food and Water Watch.

The rally comes just days after National Grid again raised rates on New York City and Long Island customers, forcing the average family to pay over $40 more per month for the same service. Since 2023, National Grid has repeatedly raised rates on its customers - and their newest rate hike will be followed by another nearly $20 increase in 2026, bringing the average utility bill to $60 more every month by 2026.

At the same time, the Trump administration announced this week it has terminated the entire staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP - which more than 1.7 million New York households depend on to pay their heating bills each winter. The State Assembly can take a concrete step to protect New Yorkers by passing the NY HEAT Act in the state budget next week.

"New Yorkers are being squeezed by exorbitant utility costs, and it's about to get even worse. National Grid's latest rate hike is going into effect, adding to the financial strain on hardworking families. Utility companies are investing in outdated fossil fuel infrastructure-instead of embracing cleaner, more cost-effective alternatives-and they expect customers to foot the bill. The NY HEAT Act will change that. I am committed to advancing this bold plan to cut costs, modernize our energy infrastructure, and ensure a more sustainable future," said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon.

"At a time when more than 1 in 7 New Yorkers are behind on their energy bills, we cannot let exorbitant prices continue to rise," said Assembly Member Harvey Epstein. "The NY HEAT Act, which I am proud to co-sponsor, will create a new path forward by capping low-to-middle-income New York residents' energy costs at 6% of their total income while also phasing out natural gas infrastructure.

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher said, "Every week, my office hears from constituents who cannot afford to pay their ever-rising utility bills. This is not right. My constituents should not be paying to line the pockets of greedy shareholders, and they shouldn't be paying to repair aging, decrepit gas infrastructure. Especially in light of the Trump administration's termination of the LIHEAP program, our state must do more to protect out people. We can pass NY HEAT in our state budget to reduce the cost of energy bills and provide an offramp to a future that is not dependent on fossil fuels. Failing to do so is an abdication of leadership."

"In the midst of chaos and cuts at the federal level, New York must lead the way in fighting for our climate future and for energy affordability. With NY HEAT, we can lower utility costs for consumers and invest in transitioning from outdated, polluting infrastructure, which are crucial in light of Trump's gutting of LIHEAP and complete dismissal of climate reality," said Assemblymember Claire Valdez.

Background

As of September 2024, approximately 1 in 7 households in New York was two months or more behind on their energy bills. This crisis is impacting more than 1.2 million families, who are collectively in debt more than $1.3 billion dollars to utilities. According to a recent report from AGREE, since 2022, every major gas utility in New York State has raised the cost of energy for their customers:

• For Con Edison customers, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased by nearly $50 since 2022 - from $205 to $253.
• For National Grid customers in NYC, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased by more than $60 between 2023 and 2026 - from $110 to $172. For National Grid customers in Long Island, the average monthly cost of gas heating will increase by nearly the same amount - from $105 to $165.
• For Central Hudson customers, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased more than $20 since 2022- from $138 to $157.
• For National Fuel Gas customers, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased by nearly $15 - from $81 to $94 - since just 2023.

The Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, also known as the NY HEAT Act, will reduce the expansion of New York's outdated and dangerous fracked gas system and save the 1 in 4 New Yorkers who struggle to pay their energy bills an average of $136 every month. The bill modernizes archaic state laws that force New Yorkers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars each year to subsidize new fracked gas hookups and pipelines. It would limit households' energy burdens and would allow utilities to provide cheaper and clean heating alternatives at no additional cost to customers – a win-win for New Yorkers and the environment.

The NY HEAT Act will also free New Yorkers from the gas mandate (also known as "the utility obligation to serve gas"), an antiquated state law that locks utilities, and consequently the vast majority of New Yorkers, into the dirty, expensive, aging gas system for heat. Because of the gas mandate, one home that wants to stay on the gas system can be the deciding factor for an entire neighborhood that would otherwise have the opportunity to receive cheaper, cleaner heating alternatives from their utility. The NY HEAT Act would require utilities to provide easy access to the most affordable and healthier heating options for their families.

According to a Siena Poll, New Yorkers agree by an overwhelming 58% to 26% that the legislature should pass the NY HEAT Act. Support for the NY HEAT Act is popular across party lines, with 67% of Democrats, 47% of Republicans, and 55% of independents agreeing it should pass. The bill is also popular with 60% of upstate voters, 55% of union households, and across income groups. 74% of Black voters and 70% of Latino voters also support the legislation. An even larger share, 51 - 17%, said that lawmakers did not do enough to improve the quality of life during last year's legislative session.

State action against climate change is crucial as Trump takes office and vows to go all-in on fossil fuels. 2024 was the hottest year on record, and New Yorkers experienced wildfires, flooding, and tornadoes. The NY HEAT Act will help New York fight climate change and it will protect New Yorkers from an unpredictable Trump administration by helping to stabilize heat and energy prices.