Con Edison Announces More Natural Gas Will Be Available: But Not Until November 2023

Con Edison has found a new source of natural gas to address the current shortage, but it won’t be online soon enough for many. In February the utility company announced a surprise moratorium on all new gas lines as of March 15. In the six weeks between the announcement and the beginning of the moratorium they received 1,600 applications for new lines, an indication of the high demand for natural gas, which is apparently in plentiful supply. The trick is delivering it to Westchester.

On April 24, Con Edison announced an “agreement with the owners of an existing natural gas pipeline that serves Con Edison’s facilities in Westchester County for additional natural gas capacity. Once completed, this reasonable, low-impact solution will provide Con Edison with the natural gas capacity needed to lift the current moratorium on new gas hookups in Westchester County.”

“Under the agreement, Tennessee Gas Pipeline would provide the increased natural gas capacity to Con Edison’s distribution system in Westchester by upgrading compression facilities on its system outside of New York State. These upgrades will enhance the capability of the existing pipelines to transport incremental natural gas supplies for Con Edison. Subject to the necessary approvals, the incremental capacity could be placed in service by November 2023.”

The rub is that the moratorium will be in effect for the next four and a half years, which is a huge blow to development in the county. Why they did not start searching for additional resources years ago is not clear.

In they meantime the utility says it is “continuing to implement the company’s $223 million Smart Solutions program for customers who are interested in alternatives to natural gas, including incentives to electrify heating systems, upgrade HVAC controls, install geothermal heat pumps or weatherize their homes. The increased gas capacity plan allows more time for technologies to advance, and for customer adoption to increase for alternative heating and cooking solutions.”