NYS Senate Finance Comm. Advances NY HEAT, Continuing Momentum Towards Lower Energy Bills and Cleaner Future!

ALBANY, NY (02/26/2024) (readMedia)-- In response to the NYS Senate Finance Committee's vote to advance the NY HEAT Act, Lisa Marshall, Advocacy and Organizing Director for New Yorkers for Clean Power, a member organization of the Better Buildings New York Coalition, issued the following statement:

"Today's vote to advance the NY HEAT Act brings us one step closer to finally delivering relief for families struggling to afford their energy bills. Utility companies across the state are investing billions every year into the dirty fracked gas system that's driving extreme weather, and they're passing the cost onto New Yorkers already unable to make ends meet. The HEAT Act will put families before utility companies' bottom lines, protecting against rising energy costs and future rate increases while kickstarting our transition away from the fossil fuels that are killing us. With the recent support from Governor Hochul - and now a majority of Assembly Members who also support the bill - lawmakers must carry the momentum forward and finish the job by including the full NY HEAT Act in their one-house budgets!"

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 that 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 exacerbated the already high cost of living.

The NY HEAT Act will begin implementing the goal to limit the amount families pay for energy relative to their income, saving families not part of utility Energy Affordability Programs up to $75 each month. It would also end more than $200 million in subsidies that New Yorkers pay every year to expand the gas system, accelerating fossil fuels-generated climate change that supercharges deadly storms, floods, and extreme heat and cold.

Last month, Governor Hochul included key provisions of the NY HEAT Act, which stands for Home Energy Affordable Transition, in her Executive Budget proposal. The bill previously passed the NYS Senate during last year's session and for the first time now has majority support in the Assembly.

About Better Buildings New York

BBNY is a network of organizations working for the equitable decarbonization of homes and buildings in New York State. We are committed to environmental justice and a just transition to all-electric homes and buildings.

*$75/month savings calculated using a 9.3% average energy burden in the NYC metro area for low-income families and 200% of the federal poverty level income of $27,180 for a one-person household.