New Yorkers Across State Urge Assembly to Get to Yes on the NY HEAT Act

ALBANY, NY (06/05/2025) (readMedia)-- Today, hundreds of New Yorkers from across the state rallied at the Capitol to demand their elected officials advance the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act (NY HEAT) Act, legislation to address New York's worsening energy affordability crisis. Albany lawmakers promised to prioritize energy affordability and save families money across the state, but their budget failed to include any provisions of the NY HEAT Act. The NY HEAT Act passed the Senate twice - now, the Assembly must deliver relief for New Yorkers who need it most.

Watch a recording of the event here and here.

"With just days until the end of legislative session, Albany cannot afford to waste another year without passing the NY HEAT Act and protecting New Yorkers from rising utility bills. The Senate supports NY HEAT - now it's time for the Assembly to get to yes on delivering their promise to get rising bills under control before the end of session," said Jessica Azulay, Executive Director of Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE).

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. Meanwhile, critical federal energy affordability programs are under threat from the Trump Administration, making state action even more essential. The NY HEAT Act will address the cause of ongoing rate hikes, saving New Yorkers hundreds of millions of dollars each year that go to subsidizing new fracked gas hookups and pipelines.

This year, the Renewable Heat Now campaign has continued to increase support for the bill among elected officials and thousands of New Yorkers, with 242 climate, consumer advocacy, environmental, and health organizations calling for its passage. The rally is part of advocates' statewide campaign to pressure lawmakers to pass NY HEAT before the end of the legislative session, with more than 20 events across the state.

"Now more than ever, New Yorkers need protection from rising energy bills while protecting our environment," said Senator Jeremy Cooney. "It's time to pass the NY HEAT Act to ensure affordable and energy-efficient heating for New York's families. I'm proud to co-sponsor this bill that would cap utility rates and move us closer to our state's climate justice goals."

"The NY HEAT Act is how we turn climate promises into policy-and utility injustice into economic relief. For too long, working-class New Yorkers have been forced to subsidize the expansion of a dirty, dangerous gas system while struggling to afford their monthly bills. This bill changes that. It aligns our energy laws with our climate goals, reins in reckless gas spending, and puts us on a path toward clean, affordable heat for all. This is about decarbonization with discipline, and justice with urgency. Let's pass the NY HEAT Act and build an energy future that works-for our wallets, our communities, and our planet," said Senator Robert Jackson.

"While New Yorkers struggle with unaffordable energy bills, gas utilities continue to rake in profits and demand more every year. The NY HEAT Act is the fix we need by capping costs for working families, ending wasteful subsidies for fossil fuels, and putting us on a path to cleaner, more affordable utilities. It's time to pass the HEAT Act and move New York toward a more sustainable future," said NY State Senator John Liu.

"Every New Yorker deserves a home that's warm in the winter, cool in the summer - and affordable all year long. This legislation is about cutting costs, ending wasteful subsidies, and making sure families aren't stuck paying for outdated gas infrastructure. This is the kind of smart, forward-thinking policy that protects our people, our planet, and our pocketbooks - and it's time to get it done," said Senator Nathalia Fernandez.

"I'm proud to support the NY HEAT Act because every New Yorker deserves access to clean, affordable energy without having to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table," said State Senator Lea Webb. "This legislation is a major step toward modernizing our energy system, making our utilities more affordable, reducing harmful emissions, and easing the burden on working families. It's about climate justice, economic justice, and doing what's right for our communities and future generations."

"Utility bills continue to rise because current state law forces New Yorkers to subsidize increasingly expensive and outdated gas infrastructure and hookups through what's known as the 100-foot rule," said Senator Patricia Fahy (D–Albany). "The NY HEAT Act will lower bills, cap utility costs, and incentivize clean energy use where it's more affordable and reliable. In my district, more than one-fifth of households are considered 'energy-burdened,' while more and more struggle to afford their utility bills. I'm hopeful that the Assembly will follow the Senate in passing the HEAT Act and delivering real financial relief to New Yorkers across the state while charting a path to a more affordable, cleaner energy future."

"The NY HEAT Act is a critical step toward climate justice and economic equity in New York," said Senator Kristen Gonzalez. "For too long, working-class New Yorkers have been forced to foot the bill for outdated, polluting gas infrastructure. This bill puts people over profits and decreases utility costs for low- and middle-income families while moving us toward a cleaner, greener future. It's time for the Assembly to stand with our communities and pass the NY HEAT Act now."

"Utility companies are charging New Yorkers for the ungodly cost of repairing and expanding old, leaky fossil fuel pipelines that are bad for the environment and wildly expensive. The NY HEAT Act is a forward-looking plan that transitions us away from fossil fuels and opens up options for less expensive, better technology. New Yorkers have been loud and clear about affordability and it's time to listen and pass the NY HEAT Act," said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, sponsor of A4870.

"The NY Heat Act is a vital piece of legislation that will reduce our carbon footprint, lower household utility bills and advance affordability, a key issue for elder New Yorkers," said Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright, Chair of the Aging Committee. "Recent studies have detailed the financial security crisis engulfing our communities, especially older adults. This bill would be a pivotal step toward protecting and uplifting our most vulnerable New Yorkers."

"I stand in full support of the NY HEAT Act, a bill that tackles the root causes of unaffordable energy bills and finally puts people over outdated gas infrastructure. This is about climate, health, and affordability. I thank WE ACT and all the tireless community advocates pushing to make sure our families aren't left behind in the transition to cleaner, cheaper energy. I've advocated, and I will continue to advocate, because New Yorkers deserve real relief, and the HEAT Act delivers it," said Assemblymember Rev. Dr. Al Taylor.

"There are far too many people in my district and across the state who have to make the difficult choice between putting food on the table or paying their utility bills. The NY HEAT Act would cap utility bills at 6 percent of a family's income, delivering a savings of $140 each month. Statewide, more than 1.2 million people are behind on their utility bills. This is a full-blown affordability crisis. People need this savings now - not in the next legislative session and not two years from now. We need it now! The NY HEAT Act is exactly what's needed to protect our communities - like my constituents in Ocean Hill/Brownsville - who are disproportionately burdened by high utility bills and the effects of climate change," said Assemblywoman Latrice Walker.

"The NY HEAT Act is a powerful tool allowing New York to fight the climate crisis and address the cost of living for working class New Yorkers," said Assemblymember Tony Simone. "With this act, we will be able to expedite our state's transition off expensive, fracked natural gas, lower the cost of living for New Yorkers, and modernize how we heat our homes."

"New Yorkers should not be forced to foot the bill for dirty, fracked gas. The climate crisis is here, yet instead of holding oil and gas billionaires accountable for the mess they've created, New York allows them to shift the costs on to working families. That is outrageous. Our communities deserve leaders who will step up and stop greedy corporations from polluting our cities, devastating our planet, and driving up our costs. We must pass the NY HEAT Act to lower utility bills for working families and to help our state transition to cleaner energy." said Assembly Member Claire Valdez.

"In the South Bronx, nearly 40% of households are struggling with energy costs that exceed 6% of their income," said Assembly Member Amanda Septimo. "We cannot allow utility companies to keep New Yorkers trapped in an outdated, overpriced energy system while corporate profits soar. The NY HEAT Act is not just a policy-it's a lifeline for New Yorkers struggling to afford basic necessities. Enacting this bill will cap costs, put an end to wasteful fossil fuel subsidies, invest in clean, affordable energy, and ensure our residents can breathe easier-both financially and literally. The Assembly must pass the NY HEAT Act now."

"Enough is enough! New Yorkers are already struggling with the crushing cost of living-and now, rising energy bills are pushing families even further behind. Big corporations should not be allowed to continue placing unnecessary burdens on our communities. It is both unfair and inhumane that hard-working New Yorkers suffer while greedy corporations and billionaires profit. New Yorkers are demanding real change now. The NY HEAT Act offers a clear solution - it would bring meaningful relief to our neighbors while helping reduce environmental harm. I urge my colleagues in the legislature to take action immediately and pass the NY HEAT Act now," said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.

"As a nurse, a mother, and a representative of a working-class district on the front lines of the climate crisis, I am proud to stand in strong support of the New York HEAT Act. Our state's current utility policies are not only outdated-they're unjust. Right now, New Yorkers are forced to pay for dirty, dangerous gas infrastructure that our communities neither want nor need. That burden falls hardest on low-income families, Black and brown communities, and tenants who are already struggling to keep up with skyrocketing energy bills. The New York HEAT Act is about common sense, climate justice, and making sure our communities can afford a just transition to clean energy.This is about protecting our health, our wallets, and our future. I'm proud to stand with the grassroots movement pushing this forward. New Yorkers deserve warm homes in the winter, clean air to breathe, and a livable future for our children. We cannot afford to delay. It's time to end our addiction to fossil fuels and build the clean energy future our communities deserve," said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest.

"My constituents cannot afford their ever-increasing utility bills or the cost of climate damage. Expanding gas infrastructure is expensive for ratepayers and profoundly counterproductive at a time when we are already suffering from the effects of climate change. We need to pass New York HEAT because in 2025, affordable clean energy is a necessity," said Assemblymember Dana Levenberg.

"With nearly a quarter of residents unable to afford their utility bills, it is more important than ever to enact the NY HEAT Act. The costs associated with rehabilitating our aging gas infrastructure have placed too great a burden on working New Yorkers, and undermine our progress toward reaching State climate targets. By ending the gas mandate and the ratepayer-funded '100-foot' rule, the NY HEAT Act will bring us closer to meeting both our affordability and environmental goals," said Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky.

"At a time when more than 1 in 7 New Yorkers are behind on their energy bills, we cannot let exorbitant prices continue to rise," said Assembly Member Harvey Epstein. "The, NY HEAT Act, which I am proud to co-sponsor, will create a new path forward by capping low-to-middle-income New York residents' energy costs at 6% of their total income while also phasing out natural gas infrastructure.

"Families across the state are struggling to keep the lights on, collectively owning more than $1 billion in utility arrears," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. "An affordability crisis converging with a climate emergency is a recipe for disaster. We cannot allow multi-billion dollar utility companies to continue raising rates at the expense of struggling New Yorkers and our climate. We've waited long enough - this must be the year that we pass the NY HEAT Act into law."

"The NY HEAT Act is an essential move to transition away from outdated gas infrastructure and substantially cut fossil fuel emissions," said Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero (D,WF-Albany, Guilderland, New Scotland). "As we strive to phase out fossil fuels by 2050, this legislation is an imperative step forward. I will continue to fight for measures that safeguard our planet and environment, especially for vulnerable communities that are disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change."

"Household energy bills are already too high and utilities continue to spend huge sums to repair and build out polluting gas infrastructure at the expense of ratepayers. It is imperative that the Legislature pass the NY HEAT Act now, which will help facilitate our transition to green energy while providing a path to stabilize energy costs," said Assemblymember Robert Carroll.

"Climate change has already arrived," said NYS Assembly Member Khaleel M. Anderson. "The NY HEAT Act provides for vulnerable New Yorkers a fair and fighting chance in the face of our climate crisis. The NY HEAT Act offers the path forward with critical relief and stability for working-class families in coastal communities like Far Rockaway and Rosedale of my district in Southeast Queens. As New York targets our ambitious climate leadership goals, this bill helps us divest from toxic pollutants, fortify our energy infrastructure, prepare our homes, and ensure New Yorkers don't pay more than 6% of their income toward energy bills."

"Every day without NY HEAT, utilities continue to add new unnecessary fracked gas infrastructure, forgoing cleaner and cheaper alternatives while locking in profits for their shareholders and rate hikes for their customers. The outdated gas mandate that protects the preferential treatment of this expensive, polluting fuel is kept in place with misinformation and fear mongering against modern, superior, and more affordable alternatives by the profit-driven fracked gas industry," said Anshul Gupta, Policy & Research Director at New Yorkers for Clean Power. "We urge the NY State Assembly to muster the political courage to stand up to the fossil-fuel industry, do what's right for New Yorkers, and pass the NY HEAT Act without further delay."

"Energy bills keep going up, and our climate keeps getting warmer. There's an air quality alert in NYC because of wildfires in Canada. New Yorkers need bold action from Albany to address our rising costs and rising temperatures," said Laura Shindell, New York State Director at Food & Water Watch. "Too many families are struggling to keep up, while our reliance on outdated, expensive fossil fuel infrastructure continues to drive costs higher. The NY HEAT Act is a chance to put working people first and deliver the relief they need. Lawmakers must seize this opportunity to pass the bill before the end of session."

"The Assembly has a choice - they can get to yes on NY HEAT, or they can go home without taking any action to curb the relentless energy rate hikes hitting New Yorkers statewide," said Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate for Earthjustice. "Antiquated laws mandating the expansion of gas infrastructure is the main driver of rising energy bills. NY HEAT is the solution, and it's time for the Assembly to deliver for their constituents by passing this bill."

"The NY HEAT Act aims to provide all New Yorkers with the ability to choose their heating and cooling systems without incurring costs associated with others' choices. Elimination of the '100-foot rule' empowers every customer to freely determine their home heating and cooling methods. The New York Geothermal Energy Organization strongly advocates for the enactment of the NY HEAT Act," said NY-GEO Executive Director Christine Hoffer.

"As everyday prices continue to rise, the Assembly must prioritize ensuring affordable, reliable, and efficient energy for New Yorkers," said Michael Hernandez, Director of New York Policy for Rewiring America. "We can not continue to force ratepayers to fund new costly gas infrastructure that is obsolete before it's even built. The Assembly must pass the NY HEAT Act and provide New Yorkers relief from the high costs of expensive and unnecessary expansions of the gas system."

"New Yorkers are getting crushed by rising energy bills and inflation-especially low-income and frontline communities. We're tired of paying for outdated gas systems that pollute our air and drain our wallets. As federal clean energy investments face rollbacks, the NY HEAT Act is more important than ever. It caps bills and reins in wasteful gas spending. Our communities can't wait any longer for relief-and we shouldn't have to," said Cameron Clarke, NY HEAT Campaign Coordinator at WE ACT For Environmental Justice.

"I brought my 5-year-old daughter to Albany today because I'm worried about her health and her future," said Samantha Gore, a Flatbush, Brooklyn parent and member of Climate Families NYC. "With Trump rolling back climate progress and shutting down climate science, New York must lead on cutting emissions and protecting children's health. It's time for Assembly Members to choose kids and working families, not corporate polluters, and pass the NY HEAT Act for cleaner air, cleaner heat, and lower bills."

"The Assembly must choose to invest in their constituents, not in gas utilities that peddle fear to protect profits," said Kim Fraczek, Director of Sane Energy Project. "Every day without NY HEAT, utilities like National Grid and National Fuel push costly, polluting projects like the Greenpoint LNG facility while families fall further behind on their energy bills. Lawmakers can't claim to care about affordability while clinging to 19th-century fossil fuel infrastructure. The NY HEAT Act is a path to lower bills, cleaner air, and real energy justice."

"The NY HEAT Act is one of the most impactful steps the legislature can take to lower energy costs for working families and end New York's reliance on fossil fuels. While private corporations keep profiting from a dangerous, outdated energy system, New Yorkers are dealing with crushing utility costs that force us to choose between keeping our families safe from extreme temperatures and keeping them fed," said Brahvan Ranga, Political Director at For the Many. "There is no reason for lawmakers to continue delaying passage of this critical bill, which would tackle the affordability and climate crises in one fell swoop. Passing the NY HEAT Act is not just a commonsense policy solution, it's a moral imperative."

Background

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. According to a recent report from AGREE, since 2022, every major gas utility in New York State has raised the cost of energy for their customers:

• For Con Edison customers, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased by nearly $50 since 2022 - from $205 to $253.
• For National Grid customers in NYC, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased by more than $60 between 2023 and 2026 - from $110 to $172. For National Grid customers in Long Island, the average monthly cost of gas heating will increase by nearly the same amount - from $105 to $165.
• For Central Hudson customers, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased more than $20 since 2022- from $138 to $157.
• For National Fuel Gas customers, the average monthly cost of gas heating has increased by nearly $15 - from $81 to $94 - since just 2023.

The Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, also known as the NY HEAT Act, gets at the heart of what is causing these ballooning energy rate hikes - archaic state laws that force New Yorkers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars each year to subsidize new fracked gas hookups and pipelines. Changing these laws will avert billions in anticipated costs. Additionally, NY HEAT would limit households' energy burdens by allowing utilities to provide cheaper and clean heating alternatives at no additional cost to customers - a win-win for New Yorkers and the environment.

The NY HEAT Act will free New Yorkers from the gas mandate (also known as "the utility obligation to serve gas"), which locks utilities, and consequently the vast majority of New Yorkers, into the dirty, expensive, aging gas system for heat, which is the primary driver of massive rate hikes. Because of the gas mandate, one home that wants to stay on the gas system can be the deciding factor for an entire neighborhood that would otherwise have the opportunity to receive cheaper, cleaner heating alternatives from their utility. The NY HEAT Act would require utilities to provide easy access to the most affordable and healthier heating options for their families, which would enable hundreds in annual savings for households.

According to a Siena Poll, New Yorkers agree by an overwhelming 58% to 26% that the legislature should pass the NY HEAT Act. Support for the NY HEAT Act is popular across party lines, with 67% of Democrats, 47% of Republicans, and 55% of independents agreeing it should pass. The bill is 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 support the legislation. An even larger share, 51 - 17%, said that lawmakers did not do enough to improve the quality of life during last year's legislative session.

State action against climate change is crucial as Trump issues Executive Orders that go all-in on fossil fuels. 2024 was the hottest year on record, and New Yorkers experienced wildfires, flooding, and tornadoes. The NY HEAT Act will help New York fight climate change and it will protect New Yorkers from an unpredictable Trump administration by helping to stabilize heat and energy prices.