Following Suspected NYCHA Gas Explosion, Bronx Lawmakers Urge Gov. to Protect NYers By Repealing 100-foot Rule

BRONX, NY (10/06/2025) (readMedia)-- Last week, a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) building in the Bronx partially collapsed after a suspected gas explosion. In response, Bronx elected officials, including Senator Nathalia Fernandez and Assemblymembers Yudelka Tapia, George Alvarez, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Karines Reyes, Amanda Septimo, and Emérita Torres issued the following statement urging Governor Hochul to sign legislation to repeal the 100-foot rule, which utilities rely on to build out new gas infrastructure on New Yorkers' dime:

"We are incredibly lucky that last week's suspected gas explosion did not result in more injuries for New Yorkers. But as long as we continue expanding our gas system, vulnerable communities will face the continued threat of crumbling gas infrastructure around them. Thankfully, we passed legislation to repeal the subsidy that lets utilities charge families to expand the gas system on their dime. Now, we need Governor Hochul to sign this critical bill into law and protect New Yorkers from any attempts to expand the dangerous gas system."

Gas leaks and explosions are not uncommon. Last year, New York State saw a residential gas explosion nearly every single month - and across the country, a serious gas leak happens on average every 40 hours. These leaks or explosions are incredibly dangerous, resulting in injuries, deaths, and millions of dollars in property damage. As the gas system continues to age, gas explosions like this one are only more likely.

Repealing the outdated "100-foot rule" would finally begin the process of reducing our reliance on risky fracked gas instead of expanding it further. 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 we know poses a threat to New Yorkers.

Background

Ending this mandate would also help the communities most vulnerable to the danger of aging gas infrastructure by helping them on their energy bills. 1 in 4 New York households already cannot afford their energy bills, and according to an estimate from the Alliance for a Green Economy, 1.2 million families are two or months behind on their energy bills. 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. By signing this legislation, Governor Hochul can save New Yorkers an estimated $200 million every year and enable the state to transition to a cleaner, more affordable energy future.

As energy bills continue to rise across the country, other states are considering ending similar subsidies for gas utilities. Last month, 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.