Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C, Elma) and members of the Senate Minority Conference have sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul urging her to issue an executive order allowing developers to continue complying with the 2020 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (Energy Code) ahead of the implementation of the 2025 Energy Code at the end of this year. By taking this action, the Governor could save New Yorkers an average of $7,500 per home, and by repealing the all-electric building mandate, those savings could rise to an additional $25,000 per household.

“Allowing this flexibility will save builders time and money while ensuring that New York’s building stock remains safe and energy efficient,” the letter opens.

The New York 2025 Energy Code drives up the cost of construction by $7,500 per single-family home, even before taking into account the mandate that all new buildings, including new homes, under seven stories, be equipped with all electric heating, cooling and appliances come January 2026, with larger residential and some commercial units to be phased in by 2029. This mandate eliminates consumer choice, imposes additional burdens on developers, and drives up costs—further accelerating the decline of the State’s already poor economic and business climate.

“These new mandates are unrealistic and unaffordable,” Senator Gallivan said. “The all-electric mandate on new home construction puts jobs in jeopardy and will drive up costs, making it harder for New York families to achieve the dream of home ownership. We need an energy plan that is dependable, efficient, and cost effective for consumers.”

The Senate’s Minority Conference has been warning ratepayers that pending energy policies would further drive up already high utility costs; force homeowners to spend thousands of dollars to retrofit their homes to eliminate natural gas; remove consumer choice on how to heat their homes; and further drive up the costs of building homes and homeownership. 

“For these reasons, we strongly urge you to issue an executive order allowing developers to comply with the 2020 Energy Code in lieu of the 2025 Code. This action would provide meaningful relief to builders and families alike, while still ensuring that construction across New York remains safe, energy efficient, and more affordable,” the letter concludes.

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