15 Dec NY’s All Electric Buildings Law
NY’s All Electric Buildings Law
Will I HAVE to have electric heat & appliances in my new house?
In 2023, NYS passed the “All-Electric Buildings Act”, requiring all new home construction to utilize all electric heat and appliances. The law effectively places a ban on gas stoves and other fossil fuel appliances in most new construction starting in 2026. This includes gas & oil heat as well as your kitchen stove and fireplaces. Not only does this policy increase construction cost, it is also more costly to operate. Historically, electric heat has been the most expensive and least efficient choice to heat your home. This law also places a heavy burden on our electric grid. Delivering electric power hundreds of miles from the generation plant to your house is much less efficient than using gas or oil at the point of use, your home. Typically, electricity generation is no “cleaner” because it is mostly generated by reliable fossil fuels anyway. Wind & solar are both unreliable and expensive.
NYS DELAYS All-Electric Buildings Act
Fortunately, at least for now, this freedom restrictive law has been put on hold. There has been two years of legal fighting with construction trade groups and the building industry. There has been bi-partisan opposition to this tyrannical law with both Democrats and Republicans raising concerns about electric grid reliability and high energy costs. State Democratic Assemblyman Bill Conrad has been leading efforts to convince Governor Kathy Hochul to halt the all-electric building act.
Support the Energy Choice Act
I urge you to support the Energy Choice Act to oppose government overreach and maintain our freedom of choice. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has made it easy to contact your representatives with a pre-made letter at this link: ACCA Protect Energy Choice
You can also go to this website to voice your concerns to your politicians: https://www.congressweb.com/MACNY/
See references:
New York State delays All-Electric Buildings Act, which would ban gas hookups in new buildings
Hochul backs down on New York gas ban, delays all-electric buildings law
Senator Gallivan Says Delay in State’s All-Electric Building Mandate Does Not Go Far Enough
Lawmakers push back against state fuel bans with Energy Choice Act: What contractors need to know