ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--FOR SEVERAL YEARS LAWMAKERS IN ALBANY HAVE TRIED TO GET A BILL CALLED THE ‘NEW YORK HEAT ACT’ OVER THE FINISH LINE—A MEASURE THAT HAS GROWING SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATS BUT CONTINUED OPPOSITION FROM REPUBLICANS.  

THIS WEEK SOME LAWMAKERS ADDED THIS legislation TO THEIR BUDGET PROPOSALS.  

“We’re pushing for this hard, we would love to get the whole thing done in the budget that’d be a great way to resolve this and the Governor is already halfway there,” said Sen. Liz Krueger (D-28th Senate District).

THE LEGISLATION INTENDS TO CAP UTILITY BILLS AND MOVE THE STATE TOWARDS RENEWABLE HEAT ENERGY.  

ONE OF THE WAYS IT TRIES TO DO THIS IS BY ENDING WHAT IS CALLED THE 100 FOOT RULE, WHICH IS A FORM OF A CROSS-SUBSIDY FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL GAS RATE PAYERS WHO DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE COST OF A NEW GAS LINE IF THEY LIVE WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING LINE.  

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS RULE—ALL THE OTHER RATE PAYERS END UP FOOTING THE BILL FOR THE GROUP OF CUSTOMERS WHO GET THEIR GAS CONNECTION FOR FREE.  

THIS YEAR THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDED PARTS OF THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT SUCH AS ELIMINATING THE 100 FOOT RULE BUT SEN. KRUEGER SAid ITS MISSING AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT.  

“We have to get the commitment of affordability back in so that the utilities are not continuing to raise their rates to levels that people cannot afford,” (14 seconds).  

SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES SAid THE AFFORDABILITY PIECES TO THE LEGISLATION ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE LEGISLATION’S PROCESS TO TRY AND TRANSITION THE STATE AWAY FROM GAS HEATING.  

“Many New Yorkers are paying a disproportionate amount of money towards maintaining our gas system. So, while we get away from the gas system it's really important, we’re protecting those consumers,” said Liz Moran, New York policy advocate with Earthjustice.

The SENATE INCLUDED THE ENTIRETY OF THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT IN THEIR BUDGET PROPOSALS BUT THE ASSEMBLY DID NOT.  

SOME LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAid THEY ARE AGAINST POLICY IN THE BUDGET.  

“I said it last year, I’ll say it this year, I’ll say it this year. We really tried to shy away from things, policy, that are more policy related in the budget,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Assembly District 83).

AS THE LEGISLATURE HEADS INTO NEGOTIATIONS NOW WITH THE GOVERNOR AND WITH EACH OTHER TO ESTABLISH A FINAL BUDGET PLAN, THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES THEY WILL HAVE TO WORK THROUGH.  

THE FINAL BUDGET IS DUE ON APRIL 1 AND THE GOVERNOR SAID SHE IS PUSHING FOR IT TO BE ON TIME THIS YEAR.