New York State Removes 100-Foot Natural Gas Hookup Rule
ALBANY, NY – The New York State legislature has passed bill S8417/A8888, which repeals a rule that required utility companies to supply natural gas to any customer within 100 feet of an existing line, with the cost falling on ratepayers. The bill covers a portion of what was in the NY HEAT Act.
The following is reaction from Richard Schrader, director of New York government affairs at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
"The repeal is a long-overdue reform that ends automatic subsidies for gas line extensions and better aligns utility policy with the state’s climate law. This is a meaningful step toward fairness and affordability, ending the practice of forcing all ratepayers to subsidize fossil fuel infrastructure for new customers. The change will save gas customers across the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually and help level the playing field for clean heating options.
“But this step is just the beginning. To fully align New York’s gas utility system with its climate and affordability goals, lawmakers must pass the broader reforms in the NY HEAT Act. These include tools to enable an affordable strategic transition of the gas system and support the deployment of neighborhood-scale building electrification projects that are already proving cost effective and overwhelmingly popular where implemented.
“Governor Hochul should swiftly sign this bill into law—and call on the legislature to finish the job next session by enacting comprehensive gas transition legislation.”
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.