Brooklyn Families Could Save $140 Each Month if Lawmakers Pass the NY HEAT Act!

BROOKLYN, NY (03/08/2024) (readMedia)-- Today, Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest rallied outside Borough Hall with residents and advocates. The group shared new research that shows energy-burdened families could save an average of $140 on their monthly utility bills if Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart Cousins include the NY HEAT Act (A4592B / S2016B) in this year's budget.

Watch the presser here.

"The utility burden spreading across our city is deeply troubling – and our leaders in government have a responsibility to address this issue before it's too late. Not only will the NY HEAT Act keep costs down for residents, the bill will also help address the harmful practices that are worsening climate change. I urge Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart Cousins to build on Governor Hochul's lead and include the full NY HEAT Act in this year's budget," said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

"There are far too many people in my district and across the city who have to make the difficult choice between putting food on the table or paying the utility bill. The NY HEAT Act would cap utility bills at 6 percent of a family's income, delivering a monthly savings of $140. The NY HEAT Act would also remove the subsidy paid to gas utilities, which adds up to more than $200 million. I encourage companies like Con Edison and the Long Island Power Authority to invest in clean energy. We all have a responsibility to keep the course and transition the state away from fossil fuels in order to more effectively fight climate change," said Assemblywoman Latrice Walker.

"Climate change should not be fixed on the backs of marginalized communities; it is a global problem we must all face equitable. As we experience the devastating effects of human-caused climate change, we must act quickly to prioritize the reduction of gas emissions, while ensuring communities like mine can convert to affordable and sustainable resources. The NY HEAT Act will implement sustainability in an environmentally just manner that paves the way for a cooler summer for all New Yorkers," said Assembly Member Brian A. Cunningham.

"The numbers don't lie. More than a quarter of Brooklynites are energy burdened. This means they pay more than six percent of their annual income on energy. But the NY HEAT Act would provide vital relief, cutting their bills in half and saving an average of $140 each month. What's more, this legislation would meaningfully accelerate our state's transition away from fossil fuel consumption, protecting both our climate and our life-sustaining natural resources," said Senator Julia Salazar.

"The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act set clear, ambitious targets for decarbonization in New York. We need to transition away from fossil fuels quickly and equitably – and accelerate clean renewable energy solutions. With the NY HEAT Act, New Yorkers dealing with high energy burdens will receive much-needed relief on their utility bills and New York State will no longer subsidize utilities' expansion of gas infrastructure. This Act will help the many households struggling with energy affordability and improve public health across Brooklyn, the city, and the state," said New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse.

The NY HEAT Act would protect families from rising energy costs and reduce future rate hikes like the ones underway by Con Edison and National Grid that will cost some customers nearly $50 more each month and raise others' bills by more than 17%. The legislation will also kickstart New York's transition from the outdated, expensive fracked gas system accelerating the effects of climate change and disproportionately hurting Brooklyn communities.

According to the new one-pager from WIN Climate:

• About 1 in 4 (24%) Brooklyn residents have a high energy burden, meaning they pay more than 6% of their annual income on energy
• With the NY HEAT Act, the 24% of Brooklyn residents with high energy burdens could see their bills cut nearly in half, saving an average of $140 per month.

The group also highlighted a new calculator tool developed by Spring Street Climate Fund that any New Yorker can use to find out how much they could save each month on their utility bills with the NY HEAT Act in place.

"The data is clear: if implemented, NY HEAT would make a significant dent on New York State's energy affordability crisis. A quarter of Brooklynites are highly energy burdened, and their bills would be cut in half, on average," said Juan-Pablo Velez, executive director of Win Climate.

"By directing the Public Service Commission to limit utility bills to 6% of income, NY HEAT ensures no New Yorkers are left behind during the transition to clean energy. As utility companies' rate hikes continue to hit New Yorkers' pocketbooks, we need Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart Cousins to put people over profit and ensure that all can afford to stay warm and keep the lights on. We need NY HEAT passed in the final budget," said Brynn Fuller-Becker, Communications & Advocacy Manager at New Yorkers for Clean Power.

"Rent is too high. Energy bills are too high. The air is too polluted, and the climate is in crisis. New York City is unaffordable and will be unlivable because greedy oil companies and landlords put their profits over people like me. The NYHEAT Act must be passed to get us off dirty fossil fuels and to help us save money after so many years of oil companies dumping their costs on us," said Sonia Medrano, member of NY Communities for Change.

Governor Hochul embraced key parts of NY HEAT in her Executive Budget proposal. The Senate passed the bill last year, and the legislation now has 76 co-sponsors in the Assembly. Advocates are calling on Assembly Speaker Heastie to include the full bill in the chamber's one-house budget.

Background

According to a recent Siena Poll, cost of living is the single most important issue facing most New Yorkers this election season. A previous Siena Poll found 8 in 10 New Yorkers statewide agree the high cost of living in New York is a major problem, and double-digit rate hikes from ConEd, National Grid, RG&E, NYSEG, National Fuel Gas, Central Hudson, and O&R have only exacerbated the already high cost of living.

The NY HEAT Act, which stands for Home Energy Affordable Transition, will stop the expansion of the dirty, outdated, fracked gas system to protect the climate. In addition to cost savings detailed above, the bill gets rid of the unfair 100-foot rule, which forces New York families to subsidize new gas hookups to the tune of $200 million every year while accelerating fossil fuel-generated climate change that supercharges storms, floods, and wildfires and drives deadly extreme heat and cold.

About Renewable Heat Now (RHN)

RHN is a network of organizations working to accelerate the adoption of ground-source (geothermal) and air-source heat pumps in New York to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used to heat and cool our homes and workplaces. We are committed to environmental justice and a just transition to all-electric homes and buildings.