MEMORANDUM IN OPPOSITION TO S.8417, Sen. Liz Krueger, Related to the provision of gas service to new customers

New Yorkers for Affordable Energy (NYAE), representing local labor, business, and
industry leaders, supports the development of clean, reliable, and affordable energy sources for residential and business consumers. Understanding the necessity of natural gas in the State economy and daily life, New Yorkers for Affordable Energy STRONGLY OPPOSES the above-referenced bill. While New Yorkers for Affordable Energy welcomes and supports access to renewable energy, we reject the elimination of the obligation to serve because it will have a lasting and negative impact on good paying union and non-union jobs in the gas and utility sector.

Natural gas is an integral component of every New Yorker’s life. According to the U.S.
Energy Information Administration (EIA), natural gas fuels 60 percent of New York households, and 40 percent of the State’s electricity derives from natural gas-run power plants. Not to mention, natural gas leads the United States’ efforts toward a future of clean energy. Natural gas provides reliable energy supplies for renewable energy production like wind and solar. According to the Western Energy Alliance, it is the number one reason the United States has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions. The above referenced bill ignores these facts and recklessly eliminates the utility companies long standing obligation to connect homes and businesses to the natural gas system free of charge if they are within 100 feet of a gas line.

The elimination of the “100-foot rule,” would lead to hundreds if not thousands of lost
jobs. One of our members, the Power and Construction Group in Rochester, estimates it would have to lay off one third of its workforce or 100 people should this become law.

In addition, the elimination of the 100-foot rule would place new cost burdens on
residents and businesses by forcing them to pay the cost of any new connection to the gas system. At a time when New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet, businesses are overburdened and people are fleeing New York, the last thing we ought to be doing is adding new costs.

S8417 is bad for jobs, bad for our economy and bad news for our working families.
Based on the proceeding, New Yorkers for Affordable Energy strongly opposes S8417 and urges the Legislature to reject it.