Governor Hochul’s Utility Rate Hike Announcement Rings Hollow New Yorkers Need Real Relief Through the NY HEAT Act

Feb 11, 2025

  • Press Release

    • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    February 11, 2025
    Contact: Jama Joseph, (646) 951-1648, jama.joseph@weact.org

     

    NEW YORK – New York State Governor Kathy Hochul is finally acknowledging the energy affordability crisis, but today’s announcement is nothing more than political theater. Calling on the Public Service Commission (PSC) to reject Con Edison’s outrageous rate hike is a step in the right direction, but it does nothing to provide long-term relief for the millions of New Yorkers struggling to pay their utility bills.

    New Yorkers need real solutions. More than 2.5 million households across the state are forced to spend more than 6 percent of their income on energy bills, with some low-income families in New York City spending over 17 percent of their income just to keep the lights on. More than 1.2 million families are already two months or more behind on their bills, owing utilities over $1.3 billion. While she says “the cost of living is too damn high and New Yorkers need more money in their pockets,” Governor Hochul’s plan does nothing to address this crisis in a meaningful way.

    If the Governor is serious about tackling sky-high utility costs, she must work with the Legislature to pass the NY HEAT Act, a long-term solution for the state’s energy affordability crisis. This bill would:

    1. Develop a plan to ensure New Yorkers most-in-need do not pay energy bills greater than 6 percent of household income.
    2. Ending the $200 million in subsidies ratepayers are forced to pay for  new gas hookups, reducing the need for these attempts to massively raise our rates in the future.
    3. Expand access to energy efficiency and bill assistance programs, delivering lasting affordability.

    WE ACT calls on Governor Hochul to work with the State Senate and Assembly and pass the NY HEAT Act. We will be in Albany on March 4 to advocate for this legislation if she’d like to learn more. 

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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, Twitter/X, and Instagram.