Trump Tariff Will Push Energy Bills Even Higher - Lawmakers Must Pass NY HEAT Act to Save NYers $$$ NOW

NY HEAT Act will stabilize energy bills and save families who need help most an average of $136 every month; Majority of voters support the bill and overwhelmingly agree Albany did NOT do enough last session to improve quality of life in New York

ALBANY, NY (02/10/2025) (readMedia)-- Last week, Canadian officials warned New York lawmakers that President Trump's new tariffs would cause gas prices to spike statewide, pushing energy bills to new record highs. The news comes as utilities across the state continue to charge customers more for the same heat, costing some families over $250 every month just to stay warm. Lawmakers must stand up for New Yorkers threatened by the Trump administration and pass the NY HEAT Act, legislation that would actually lower energy bills and which already has the support of a majority of New Yorkers across all demographics!

"New Yorkers are already facing a cost of living crisis, and the Trump administration is only making it worse by forcing everyday people to pay even more for basics that are already unaffordable! As lawmakers, we must do what the federal government won't and stand up for families struggling to get by. The NY HEAT Act would do exactly that by stabilizing energy prices - putting a cap on the amount that any family has to pay for heat - and saving the 1 in 4 families that need help most an average of $136 every single month. We cannot sit by any longer, which is why we, as lawmakers, must protect New Yorkers in need and pass the NY HEAT Act this session," said Assembly Member Dana Levenberg.

"Families shouldn't have to make this painful decision between heating their home and other essentials like food or healthcare. Lawmakers can make the easy decision to stabilize energy bills and stop utilities from raising prices for the same dirty and expensive heat. Without action, people across the state will only suffer more while we make our climate worse. The Assembly must stand up for all New Yorkers - including environmental justice communities who bear the brunt of the climate and affordability crises - and pass the NY HEAT Act now," said Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate at Earthjustice.

Last week, the Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) released an analysis showing how gas utilities Con Edison, National Fuel Gas, Central Hudson, and National Grid are charging customers dramatically more year after year for gas heating - and are scheduled to keep raising prices - even regardless of tariffs. According to the analysis, 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.

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 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.

Background

In December, Governor Hochul announced a plan to send $300 checks for every New York family earning under $150,000/year. It's a start, but without the NY HEAT Act, the majority of New York City families will end up using that money just to keep up with their heating bill increases. If the Assembly wants to really address the energy affordability crisis, they must take real action and protect New Yorkers from continuous rate hikes by ConEd and other utilities.

The Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, also known as the NY HEAT Act, will reduce the expansion of New York's outdated and dangerous fracked gas system and save the 1 in 4 New Yorkers who struggle to pay their energy bills an average of $136 every month. The bill modernizes archaic state laws that force New Yorkers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars each year to subsidize new fracked gas hookups and pipelines. It would limit households' energy burdens and would allow 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 also free New Yorkers from the gas mandate (also known as "the utility obligation to serve gas"), an antiquated state law that locks utilities, and consequently the vast majority of New Yorkers, into the dirty, expensive, aging gas system for heat. 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.

By curbing expansion of the fracked gas system, the NY HEAT Act will also curb the utility rate hikes slamming New Yorkers across the state. In addition to the rate hikes described above:

State action against climate change is crucial as Trump takes office and vows to 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.