New Yorkers burned a record amount of natural gas to keep warm during the prolonged stretch of arctic conditions that have gripped the region for weeks.
National Grid, which delivers natural gas across New York State, said it provided an all-time high amount of gas delivery to Long Island and the Rockaway Peninsula on Feb. 7, which broke a record that was set only a week prior. Its service areas in Brooklyn, Staten Island and parts of Queens experienced the second highest day.
During this cold snap, Long Island gas consumption was so high that eight of the top 10 high gas output days in National Grid history occurred between Jan. 23 to Feb. 7. The previous gas consumption record was broken six times in the past couple of weeks on Long Island. In that same period, New York City hit three of its top 10 days of gas usage history.
Con Edison, the other major New York utility, recorded its third-highest distribution of natural gas on Feb. 7. Last month was ranked as the company’s fourth-highest for gas delivery. Con Edison provides gas to just more than 1 million customers in New York City and Westchester.
On top of the expected spike in supply, Con Ed customers started paying more for delivery this month as well. The Public Service Commission unanimously approved a rate hike for Con Ed gas and electricity customers starting January of this year.
Most of the region's electricity is also generated by natural gas-powered plants, driving demand even further.
National Grid said bills in New York City could jump by 9.2 percent over last month. Con Ed declined to cite a number but warned that the increase could be steep.
“The recent cold snap saw some of the highest gas demand in our history,” Con Ed spokesperson Jamie McShane said. “Prolonged low temperatures have driven increased energy use, while nationwide cold has sharply raised wholesale natural gas and electricity prices.”
To save money during this cold snap, Con Ed recommends clearing the areas around heating vents and radiators and opening shades on south-facing windows to let in sunlight. A thermostat can also help save money. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting thermostats to around 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and lowering them by 7-10 degrees when there is no one home. This can save as much as 10% on monthly bills.
“The best way for customers to manage their bills is to manage their usage, as usage is the biggest contributor to increases or decreases on your bill,” McShane said. “We encourage customers to set their thermostat at the lowest comfortable, safe temperature.”
Around 60% of New York City households use gas heat. Approximately 70% of city homes use gas for cooking as well. The state was on course to begin phasing out gas in buildings this year, but Gov. Kathy Hochul delayed implementing the mandate until 2027. The state's 2019 climate law requires phasing out of fossil fuels by 2040.
According to federal data, natural gas heating is a significant source of pollution, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and methane. Gas heating accounts for 40% of a household’s carbon footprint, about 5,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
