The passage of the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition (HEAT) Act, a legislation aimed at curbing new natural gas hookups, appears increasingly unlikely before the end of the legislative session.
The bill, revised and resubmitted to the Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee on Wednesday, is unlikely to pass given the committee’s lack of scheduled meetings before the session’s end on June 8. Despite its progression through the Senate Energy Committee with support from sponsor Sen. Liz Krueger, concerns over cost to utility companies and grid impact led to its removal from the state budget.
The proposed bill seeks to halt utility companies from constructing new natural gas hookups for electricity generation and limit utility bills to 6% of income for low and moderate-income households, potentially saving families up to $75 monthly.
The HEAT Act also plans to eliminate the 100-foot subsidy that expands gas systems using approximately $200 million annually from ratepayers. Additionally, it aims to incorporate the Climate Act’s climate goals into public service law, providing enhanced oversight of gas utilities. Critics, including state Republicans and Assembly leaders, argue against the cost implications of transitioning to green energy, suggesting the state should work on incentives with utility companies for a cleaner economy.
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