ICYMI: NYers Continue Statewide Campaign Urging Gov. Hochul To Sign 100-Foot Rule Repeal Before End of Year!

ALBANY, NY (12/12/2025) (readMedia)-- Yesterday, hundreds of New Yorkers held a final rally as part of the statewide campaign to urge Governor Hochul to deliver relief for everyday people by signing S8417 / A8888, legislation that would end the costly "100-foot rule". Advocates from every utility territory across the state highlighted their sky-high energy bills and urged the Governor to save families nearly $600 million on their energy bills every year by repealing this mandate, following similar events in Westchester, Kingston, Rochester, Brooklyn and Queens.

Watch a recording of yesterday's event here.

The legislation was sent to the Governor's desk on Monday, meaning she has just one week to sign it into law. Thankfully, Governor Hochul has said she is considering signing the bill - now she has a chance to deliver on her affordability commitment and provide relief for New Yorkers in need.

"Governor Hochul has a chance to deliver on her affordability promise by signing the only remaining legislation on her desk to lower New Yorkers' energy bills: the repeal of the 100-foot rule. Getting rid of this outdated mandate will provide real relief for families who can't afford continued inaction, and is the last chance this year for the Governor to show she is serious about tackling our climate and energy affordability crises. It's time to put New Yorkers first and sign this bill into law," said Senator Liz Krueger, sponsor of S8417.

"Utility companies currently have a blank check to expand dirty gas infrastructure and push those costs onto New Yorkers through their monthly utility bills. Repealing the esoteric 100-foot rule will save New Yorkers money and incentivize cleaner, cheaper energy alternatives. It's a win for our climate and a win for a more affordable New York. I urge Governor Hochul to sign the bill before her and deliver a victory to New Yorkers," said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, sponsor of A8888.

Earlier this fall, more than 50 state lawmakers sent a letter to Governor Hochul urging her to repeal the 100-foot rule, writing, "New Yorkers should not be paying millions to companies that are abusing outdated laws in order to bring in record profits." More than 60 local elected officials sent their own letter to the Governor as well, urging her to sign the bill to help lower their constituents' energy bills.

Already, 1 in 4 New Yorkers are struggling to afford their energy bills - while the Trump administration continues to cut clean energy and energy affordability programs that help families get by. The 100-foot rule is making this crisis worse by allowing utilities to charge New Yorkers more on their energy bills to expand an antiquated, polluting gas system that is already too expensive. Governor Hochul is reportedly considering signing the bill - and now, she can deliver on her promise to save families money and hold utilities accountable by repealing this handout.

"The 100-foot rule is an outdated relic that allows utilities to increase their profits on our backs and do it by expanding the same dirty, fracked gas system that's hurting our climate. Getting rid of this handout to corporate utilities is a critical step toward both lowering New Yorkers' energy bills and holding those utilities accountable to working families struggling to get by. Thankfully, Albany lawmakers have acted. Governor Hochul can now finish the job and sign the only remaining bill to lower our energy bills into law before the end of the year," said Lisa Marshall, Advocacy and Organizing Director New Yorkers for Clean Power.

Background

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 tethered to a fracked gas system that is already unaffordable. 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.

Even as more families struggle to afford their energy bills, utilities across the state are continuing to raise rates on New Yorkers so they can expand the gas system and bring in record profits. Repealing the 100-foot rule would remove the incentive for utilities to needlessly expand the gas system, which is preventing New York from reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and investing in cleaner, more affordable energy that benefit all New Yorkers.

As energy bills continue to rise across the country, other states are ending similar subsidies for gas utilities. Earlier this year, 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.