Today, the New York State Senate passed S2016B/A4592B, the “NY HEAT Act.” In passing it again this year, the Senate has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to address the energy affordability and climate crises. This legislation will save New Yorkers money on their energy bills while ensuring that state regulation and oversight of gas utilities provides for the equitable achievement of the climate justice and emission reduction mandates set forth in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (the CLCPA).

The Senate included the NY HEAT Act in its one-house budget proposal. Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal included “the Affordable Gas Transition Act,” which like NY HEAT, gives the Public Service Commission (PSC) the authority and direction to align gas utility regulations and system planning with the CLCPA; eliminates the 100-foot rule which shifts the cost for expansion of the gas system to everyday New Yorkers to the tune of more than $200 million every year; and removes a mandate to provide fossil fuel to residential customers. The Assembly excluded this policy from its one-house budget proposal.

The following statement is attributed to Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate for Earthjustice:

“Earthjustice applauds the Senate for, once again, championing affordability for all New Yorkers and fighting climate change by passing the NY HEAT Act. Utilities have hiked rates 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 on their energy bills annually by capping utility bills and eliminating needless subsidies to expand the gas system.

“But New Yorkers need the Assembly to join the Senate as a partner. The Assembly’s budget acknowledges New York’s energy affordability problem, but its proposal does not do enough. To truly deliver on affordability and save money for ratepayers, the Assembly must champion the NY HEAT Act in the budget.

“We thank Majority Leader Stewart Cousins and Senator Krueger for their leadership on this critical policy and urge the Assembly to follow their lead.”