By Office of County Executive, Westchester County

Mar. 6, 2019: After testifying in person at a meeting of the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding Con Edison’s sudden proposed natural gas moratorium, Westchester County Executive George Latimer has officially filed a request for the PSC to hold off on Con Edison’s proposed natural gas moratorium.

In the request, the county states that “Con Edison has failed to make a case that customer demands cannot be managed through innovative practices without a moratorium on accepting new customers. The county contends that ‘smart solutions’ including energy efficiency and beneficial electrification can manage customer demand while allowing new customers to take gas services.”

The county further notes that “the Commission must not allow a moratorium on accepting new customers to take effect until it has reviewed the staff report and taken appropriate action.”

Later in the request, the county contends that the order is made necessary by negative impacts of the moratorium--noting that an estimate of the economic harm to be caused by Con Edison’s moratorium was presented at the public statement hearing in Westchester by County Executive George Latimer. Latimer said the moratorium will impact affordable housing along with

New residential units at risk – 16,000
New commercial space at risk – 2,000,000 sq. ft.
Lost construction jobs – 25,000
Lost permanent retail jobs – 5,000-7,000
Lost number of residents in Westchester County – 48,000
Lost rental income - $60 million/year 

Pictured here:  George Latimer.

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