Earthjustice Statement: Assembly One-House Budget SFY2025 Omits NY HEAT Act

The New York State Assembly released its one-house budget bills for SFY2024-25, which excluded the NY HEAT Act (S2016B/A4592B). However, the Assembly included new policy that codifies a 6% cap on energy bills for eligible low-income New Yorkers.  

The Senate included NY HEAT Act in its one-house budget proposal. Additionally, Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal included “the Affordable Gas Transition Act,” which, like NY HEAT, would give the Public Service Commission (PSC) the authority and direction to align gas utility regulations and system planning with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), eliminate the unjust 100-foot rule, which forces everyday New Yorkers to pay for the expansion of the gas system to the tune of more than $200 million every year, and removes a mandate to provide fossil fuel to residential customers. However, the Governor’s proposal excludes key elements to address affordability and enforce implementation.  

The following statement can be attributed to Liz Moran, New York policy advocate for Earthjustice:  

“The Assembly neglecting to include the full NY HEAT Act in its one-house budget sends a signal that it is not their priority to address the worsening climate crisis and cut energy bills for everyday New Yorkers. Though we appreciate that the Assembly has put forward policy that tackles some level of energy affordability, this falls far short of meeting the urgency of the moment. 

“Utilities are setting off a wave of rate hikes across the state, while resisting efforts to save New Yorkers money and move them off fossil fuels. The NY HEAT Act would save New Yorkers hundreds off their energy bills annually. By excluding policy to eliminate the 100-foot rule subsidy and the obligation to serve gas, the Assembly’s proposal would continue to place the financial burden on everyday New Yorkers for the increasing costs of the dirty gas system.  

“After experiencing a 2023 where New Yorkers faced dangerous air quality and smoky skies, flooding so extreme that people were stranded, extreme heat, and increasing utility bills, it could not be more important for the Assembly and the Governor to join the Senate in supporting the full NY HEAT Act in the final budget.”