NY to mandate all electric heating for new construction

Starting in January 2026 big changes will be coming to new construction in New York with a requirement that most new buildings, including new homes, be heated by electric.  New structures will not be permitted to be heated using oil or gas.

Democratic lawmakers in Albany celebrated the move, citing the new requirement as the next step in an ongoing state-mandated effort to transition from fossil fuels as part of the state’s climate goals.  Republicans criticized the measure claiming that the new requirement will add to the already high cost of home construction and home heating in the state.  They pointed to already high electric utility bills as a major cause for concern.

New York Independent Service Operator’s Dashboard as of July 27, 2025

The all-electric requirement will apply to buildings under seven stories, including new residential homes and condos.  There are some exceptions to the new requirements including for restaurants, factories,  hospitals, and agricultural buildings.

Despite the effort to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, key to note is that a vast majority of the state’s power is generated by burning fossil fuels.  Under an all electric policy, additional energy generation would be required to meet increased demands, which will result in added reliance on natural gas and duel-fuel plants which make up the majority of generation facilities in the state.  As of the publication of the story, according to the New York State ISO dashboard, less than 17 percent of the energy generated in the state was sourced from renewables.

The requirement will apply to structures permitted for construction after January 1, 2026.