New York cuts ‘100-foot rule’ for gas hook ups

(The Center Square) – Property owners hooking up natural gas lines in new homes will soon cover the cost themselves.

This, after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that undoes the “100-foot-rule,” a decades-old provision that requires utility companies to connect new buildings to the system for free, so long as they are located within 100 feet of a gas main. Supporters of the new law say these costs are passed on to other customers.

“It’s simply unfair, especially when so many people are struggling right now, to expect existing utility ratepayers to foot the bill for a gas hookup at a brand new house that is not their own,” Hochul said. “I have made affordability a top priority and doing away with this 40-year-old subsidy that has outlived its purpose will help with that.”

The connection price tag ranges between $2,500 and $10,000 per home, some estimates show. That amounts to a $200 million annual savings for bill payers, said Environmental Advocates New York. The nonprofit says doing away with the rule will bring th...