Westchester Lawmakers and Kids Urge Gov. Hochul To Repeal 100-Foot Rule!

CROTON-ON-HUDSON (10/29/2025) (readMedia)-- Yesterday, ahead of Halloween, Assemblymembers Dana Levenberg and MaryJane Shimsky joined Westchester advocates and families to urge Governor Hochul to sign legislation to repeal the scary "100-foot rule." In June, Albany lawmakers voted to repeal the 100-foot rule and end the outdated subsidy that allows utilities to expand the polluting gas system on New Yorkers' dime, threatening their health and children's future and costing ratepayers nearly $600 million on their energy bills every year. By signing this legislation, Governor Hochul can rein in utilities taking advantage of New Yorkers and sign the only major climate bill on her desk to help address New York's climate and energy affordability crises.

Watch a recording of the event here.

View images from the event here.

"It's spooky season, and you know what's really scaring folks? The return of winter gas bills. If you have natural gas in your home you know firsthand how horrifically expensive it is. The supply charges are bad but the delivery charges are even worse - constituents have shared bills with my office with gas delivery charges that are five, six, seven times the cost of the amount of gas used. It's unacceptable to pay this much for energy that is poisoning our homes and warming our planet. For the health of our planet and our pocketbooks, we must transition away from using gas as quickly as we possibly can. Ending the 100-foot rule is a small but important step in the right direction, as it will enable utility companies to stop forcing all ratepayers to subsidize the continued expansion of the gas network. I urge the Governor to sign this bill into law as soon as possible," said Assemblymember Dana Levenberg.

"Every step we can take to advance the transition to affordable, renewable energy makes a difference--and ending public subsidies for fossil fuels is an important part of this process. By having home builders and homeowners pay for their own gas hook-ups, we can reduce the burden on New York ratepayers by nearly $600 million annually. As a strong advocate for the repeal of the 100-foot rule, I urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into State law," said Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky.

"Governor Hochul, we need leadership that prioritizes the well-being of families. By repealing the 100-Foot Rule, we can stop the expansion of the polluting gas system, save money, and transition to clean heating systems that decrease our carbon emissions. Signing this bill is also a necessary step toward curbing our rising energy bills," said Donna O'Malley, Member Leader of Mothers Out Front Northern Westchester.

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 stop utilities from needlessly expanding the gas system, which is preventing New York from reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and providing access to cleaner, modern energy solutions that benefit all New Yorkers. Ending this mandate would enable utilities to invest in a cleaner, more affordable energy future - as required by New York's landmark Climate Law.

The Assemblymembers were among more than 50 state lawmakers who signed a letter to Governor Hochul last month urging her to pass the 100-foot rule and protect their constituents from utilities. In the letter, lawmakers wrote, "New Yorkers should not be paying millions to companies that are abusing outdated laws in order to bring in record profits." The letter followed a similar effort from over 60 local elected officials who sent their own letter to the Governor urging her to pass the 100-foot rule and protect their constituents from utilities.

"The 100' rule is grossly unfair, subsidizing the natural gas industry and helping to perpetuate fossil-fuels. The system is contrary to the state's goals of reducing the carbon emissions that produce greenhouse gases. I am an enthusiastic cosponsor of this legislation to scrap an arcane and antiquated law, and I encourage the Governor to sign it," said Assemblymember Chris Burdick.

"Putting an end to the 100-foot rule is a common sense change to our state laws that affects both affordability for community members and accelerates sustainability efforts. We must make bold changes to stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry. That means shutting down loopholes and perverse incentives-like the 100-foot rule-that keep households tied to systems that are costing us our health and in our pocketbooks. I applaud the advocates for their research and diligence, and urge the Governor to sign the bill!" said Westchester County Legislator Emiljana Ulaj.

"The Governor must stop backtracking on our climate laws and priorities the issues her constituents, not the fossil fuel industry, care about. Hundreds of New Yorkers from all across the state mobilized to Albany throughout the legislative session to get this bill passed, and hundreds more showed up at their legislators offices in district to demand we stop this outrageous and unnecessary gas subsidy. It is time for Hochul to listen to state legislators and her constituents and sign this bill," said Melissa Hoffmann, Food & Water Watch Hudson Valley and Westchester Organizer.

"Whether it's our award-winning solar array at the Croton-Harmon Train Station parking lot, our use of solar on our firehouses and public works building or the all-electric multifamily developments either open, under construction or planned, Croton has effectively moved on from natural gas as we work towards the Croton of tomorrow – that's why we're hopeful Governor Hochul will sign the law to repeal the 100 foot rule," said Len Simon, Deputy Mayor of Croton-on-Hudson.

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 hooked on 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.

Today, 1 in 4 New York households cannot afford their energy bills, according to an estimate from the Alliance for a Green Economy. At the same time, the Trump administration has cut LIHEAP, a crucial energy assistance program which New York relies on more than any other state, and suspended the federal Weatherization Assistance Program - both of which help fill the gaps and reduce energy costs for low-income households.

As energy bills continue to rise across the country, other states are considering ending similar subsidies for gas utilities. Last month, 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.