Heating Assistance Programs Aren't Enough

As Heating Bills Rise, Gov. Hochul Must Support NY HEAT Act

ALBANY, NY (11/12/2024) (readMedia)-- This afternoon, Governor Hochul announced the federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the state's energy efficiency programs, stating that "New Yorkers should not have to choose between heating their home or putting food on the table" (HEAP). These programs are not new, but a promotion of programs that already exist.

In response, Jessica Azulay, Executive Director of Alliance for a Green Economy, issued the following statement:

"New Yorkers need major new action to get rising utility bills under control, not just promotion of programs that already existed. To bring the cost-savings New Yorkers need, the Governor must pass the NY HEAT Act, which will ensure no household pays more than 6% of income on energy today, and transition to more affordable clean energy tomorrow."

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 And as winter for-profit gas corporations are projected to charge New Yorkers 18% more for heat.

Background

Despite lawmakers' failure to pass the bill last session, the NY HEAT Act has support across the legislature. Governor Hochul embraced key parts of the NY HEAT Act in her 2025 Executive Budget proposal, the Senate passed the bill twice, and the bill has support from a majority of Assemblymembers.

The Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, also known as the NY HEAT Act, will stop the expensive expansion of New York's outdated and dangerous fracked gas system. The bill modernizes archaic state laws that force New Yorkers to pay billions of dollars each year to subsidize new fracked gas hookups and pipelines. It would limit households' energy costs and would allow utilities to provide cheaper and clean heating equipment at no additional cost to customers – a win-win for New Yorkers and the environment.

The NY HEAT Act is popular across party lines, with 67% of democrats, 47% of republicans, and 55% of independents agreeing it should have passed. It was 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 wanted it to pass.