Lawmakers, Advocates Urge Gov. Hochul to Deliver on Affordability Promise By Repealing 100-Foot Rule

ALBANY, NY (12/11/2025) (readMedia)-- Today, more than 150 New Yorkers rallied at the Capitol to urge Governor Hochul to deliver relief for everyday people by signing A8888 / S8417, legislation that would end the costly "100-foot rule". The legislation was sent to the Governor's desk on Monday, meaning she has until December 19 to sign it into law and stop utilities from costing New Yorkers nearly $600 million more on their energy bills every year. By repealing the 100 ft rule, the Governor would provide relief on energy bills and enable clean heating and cooling.

Watch a recording of the event here.

View images from the event here.

"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 Getting rid of this outdated mandate will provide real relief for families who can't afford continued inaction, and is the last chance this year for the Governor to show she is serious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.

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.

Attendees at the rally spoke about how their energy bills have skyrocketed and urged the Governor to protect them from corporate gas utilities repeatedly raising rates on them. The press conference followed a series of press conferences across the state urging the Governor to sign the legislation before the end of this year, including recent events in Westchester, Kingston, Rochester, Brooklyn and Queens.

"Right now, New York's 100-foot rule mandate requires gas utilities to hook up all new customers to gas lines at no charge, meaning ratepayers are underwriting every new connection and the $200 million annual price tag for this continued expansion of gas infrastructure at a time when utility bills are through the roof," said Senator Patricia Fahy (D-Albany), former sponsor of the NY HEAT Act in the State Assembly. "New Yorkers and Capital Region residents are already struggling amidst a worsening affordability crisis that sees families unable to afford the basics and simply, keep the lights on thanks to tariffs and policies emanating from Washington, D.C. This year, we must deliver real relief by ending the 100-foot rule that continues to cost our ratepayers and households millions of dollars every year."

"With the cost of living continuously on the rise, far too many New Yorkers are being forced to choose between feeding their families and heating their homes. Meanwhile, utility companies report record profits as they raise their prices and expand the fracked gas system," said Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero (D, WF–Albany, Guilderland, New Scotland). "This cannot continue - which is exactly why I voted to pass the 100-foot Rule Repeal this session. We must put the people of New York and the protection of our environment first. I strongly urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law for a greener, more affordable future for New York State."

"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.

"By repealing the 100-Foot Rule, we can stop subsidizing the expansion of a gas system that pollutes our air, harms our climate, and burdens families with ever-rising energy bills. We urge Governor Hochul to sign the bill as a critical first step to a cleaner, more affordable system that we deserve," said Donna O'Malley, Mothers Out Front Member Leader.

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.