New York Senate Again Passes NY HEAT Act As Lawmakers Push to Include Crucial Bill in This Year's Budget

ALBANY, NY (03/19/2024) (readMedia)-- In response to the New York Senate's vote to pass the NY HEAT Act, Lisa Marshall, Organizing and Advocacy Director at New Yorkers for Clean Power, a member organization of the Better Buildings New York Coalition, issued the following statement:

"Today, the Senate reaffirmed its commitment to climate progress and energy affordability for all New Yorkers by passing the NY HEAT Act. Families across the state are desperate for relief on their energy bills, and the Senate clearly understands that anything short of the full NY HEAT Act will fail to adequately address the energy affordability and the climate crisis. Now, it's time for Speaker Heastie and Governor Hochul to follow their lead. The state will fail to protect ratepayers from escalating future costs unless the cornerstone of the NY HEAT Act, amending the obligation to serve gas, is included. As Albany leaders continue to negotiate the State's budget, Governor Hochul and Speaker Heastie must step up and join the Senate by including the full NY HEAT Act in their final budget agreement."

Background

According to a recent Siena Poll, cost of living is the top issue facing most New Yorkers this election season. A previous Siena Poll found 8 in 10 New Yorkers statewide agree the high cost of living in New York is a major problem. Higher energy costs, caused by double-digit rate hikes from ConEd, National Grid, NYSEG, RG&E, Central Hudson, National Fuel Gas, and O&R, only exacerbate the cost of living problem.

The NY HEAT Act (A4592B / S2016B) will begin implementing the goal to limit the amount families pay for energy relative to their income. It would also curtail new investments in gas pipelines worth billions of dollars that New Yorkers pay to enhance the same system accelerating climate change and raising our utility bills.

According to a recent statewide report from WIN Climate and NY Renews, 1 in 4 New Yorker households are energy-burdened, meaning they pay more than 6% of their annual income on energy bills. With the NY HEAT Act, the 25% of all households that are energy-burdened could see their bills cut nearly in half, saving an average of $136 each month.

In January, 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.

Earlier this month, the Assembly included some language in its budget to lower energy costs, but the provisions fall well short of the NY HEAT Act's holistic, practical, and well thought-out approach to addressing the energy affordability and climate crises. Now, Assembly lawmakers have an unprecedented opportunity to finish the job and pass legislation that would modernize New York's utility regulations and include critical language to help New Yorkers struggling to afford their heating bills.

About Better Buildings New York

BBNY is a coalition 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.