With nine months until most new construction in New York must be all-electric — no natural gas — contractors and heating specialists say they lack guidance on the regulations and dislike limiting options for rural living.
The State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council voted Feb. 28 to recommend major updates to the state’s building code. The draft updates include rules to make most new buildings all-electric starting in 2026 in line with the “All-Electric Buildings Act,” passed in 2023. The laws will be enacted in phases and fully implemented by 2029.
“Since buildings alone account for 32% of greenhouse gas emissions in New York, they need to be part of our response to the climate crisis,” the New York Assembly website states.
CONSUMER CHOICE
Bob Rozzoni — owner of Holy Smoke Stove Fireplace Chimney in Dryden — said the regulations “absolutely” limit consumer choice.
“I don’t think that’s going to last very long because so many people need the convenience of gas stoves,” Rozzoni said. “Electric stoves definitely don’t work as well, if you’re a chef or a serious cook, you know there’s a huge difference.”
“If you have an electric system and you lose power … you’re going to freeze your butt off,” Rozzoni said, adding older people may struggle with the heavy lifting required to fuel wood or pellet stoves.
Hunter Reynolds — the manager of Papa Bears Stoves in Marathon — also highly doubts people will be willing to give up on natural gas.
“We get way more [interest in] natural gas than we do electric, especially just like for heating purposes, electric doesn’t really have the same effect and it’s a lot more expensive,” Reynolds said.
“I can’t tell you how many electric heat units I’ve ripped out of houses and replaced with natural gas or propane units,” said Jeff Fredrickson, owner of Crown Construction in Dryden.
However, the Assembly website states: “Gas furnaces also require electricity, leaving them equally vulnerable compared to heat pumps; additionally, gas-powered generators are still permitted under New York’s law.”
However, Jamie Yaman, principal broker for Yaman Real Estate, says when it comes to buying a house, the heating source is far down on the list of priorities.
“There are way more impactful things that happen over the course of the year that would affect buyer sentiment more than how they’re heating or cooling their house,” Yaman said.
YOUR WALLET
Existing homes are unaffected by the law, and exemptions are made for car washes, food establishments, laundromats and manufacturing facilities.
Waivers can be issued in places where the electric grid can’t handle this increased demand, waivers can be issued.
Gas and construction trade groups have filed suit to block the regulations, and disagreement continues on what effect the new rules will have on the consumer. Fredrickson says the switch to electric will “absolutely” make things more expensive
“I’ve run into a few people in Cortland that want it, but I’d say more so [Cortland clients are] looking more at the cost,” Fredrickson said. “Because of the cost, they might just remodel what they have.”
The New York State Assembly website calls this claim a “myth,” saying all-electric buildings will not be more expensive and they “can save homeowners nearly $1,000 a year on heating.” However, that claim is based on a study from sustainability advocate Rocky Mountain Institute, citing only data about heating homes in New York City, but not rural parts of the state.
Yaman thinks if there is an increase in prices it will probably be nominal in relation to the cost of maintaining a home annually.
“There are times when fuel drops, propane drops, fuel increases in costs, or propane increases in costs, it’s never a static environment but often times these are cleaner and [more] cost-efficient options running electric, heating or cooling systems,” Yaman said. “They might be more costly up front but it’s likely that the consumer is going to look at the long term picture.”
STATE GUIDANCE
However, 2026 is too soon, Rozzoni and Reynolds said. Rozzoni noted the state hasn’t provided retailers with any details or guidance.
“I personally think it should be pushed back,” Fredrickson said. “I think it’s definitely going to hurt the trades, I mean regulation always hurts, it slows things down generally speaking.”
Reynolds suggests a few more years. “We’re small so we don’t have a ton of stock, but the people who do stock it, they need to at least be given a chance to sell through what they have,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds says gas stoves account for 25% to 30% of sales and worries about the effect this could have on the company. “It certainly wouldn’t help us any,” Reynolds said.
