Governor Hochul Signs Repeal of the 100-foot Rule Into Law, Taking a Step Towards Energy Affordability for New Yorkers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2025
Contact: Chris Dobens, 718-679-8542, chris@weact.org
ALBANY, NY – New York State Governor Kathy Hochul took a step towards supporting energy affordability by signing the bill (S.8417/A.8888) repealing the 100-foot rule into law today. Public Service Law requires utilities to build a gas service line or main extension to any building or home within 100 feet of an existing gas main at no cost to the customer. That cost, however, was paid for by ratepayers – as much as $581 million in 2021, making it essentially a gas infrastructure subsidy that customers have been forced to pay for. Under the new law, anyone who wants a gas pipeline within a 100 feet of an existing gas main will have to pay for it themselves.
“This reform moves New York one step closer to an affordability strategy that actually lines up with the State’s obligations under the Climate Act. Families in low income and environmental justice communities are being told they must choose between affordable bills and clean air, even as they pay the highest energy burdens in the State,” explained Lonnie Portis, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “Energy affordability is a national crisis; 1.4 million New Yorkers struggled to pay their energy bills last winter. New Yorkers struggling to pay their bills know that real affordability will require the Governor to pair reforms like this with stronger investments that cut bills and emissions together. WE ACT looks forward to working with the Governor on the next set of solutions for how that can and should happen.“
WE ACT for Environmental Justice – along with fellow environmental advocates from the Renewable Heat Now coalition and beyond – have been advocating for the repeal of the 100-foot rule as part of a broader legislative package, the NY HEAT Act, which was designed to make energy more affordable – especially for disadvantaged communities – while helping advance the State’s climate goals. In addition to the repeal of the 100-foot rule, we had been advocating for capping energy bills at 6 percent of household income for low-income customers, which the State committed to this back in 2016, and ending utilities “obligation to serve” natural gas, which would give them more flexibility in transitioning communities from natural gas to clean heating and cooling technologies.
“We thank New York State Senator Liz Kruger and New York Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon for their leadership in sponsoring this legislation, our fellow advocates for helping advance it, and Governor Hochul for signing it into law,” added Portis.
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WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan-based, membership-driven organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low-income residents are meaningfully included in the development of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Visit us at weact.org and follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram.