Below is a draft letter that the Renewable Heat Now coalition submitted to the PSC. You are free to copy and paste our letter, portions of our letter, or write your own letter to tell the Commission why having access to renewable heat is important to you. Enter your information on the right hand side to send your letter directly to the Public Service Commission.

Some points you may want to highlight:

• We want our Public Service Commission to use our public money to direct the utilities to make renewable heat pump incentives available for all types of customers, no matter what type of heating fuel they currently use.

• Renewable heating is necessary to meet our state's climate goals

• Currently, some utilities don't make their heat pump rebates available to customers on the utility gas system, and we need to make mandates for customers to get off all fossil fuels.

• The utilities must be directed to comply with the 5 TBtu heat pump targets established by the state and should be required to pursue all cost-effective energy efficiency.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Please make the SUBJECT of your letter:  "Case #18-M-0084 - In the Matter of a Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Initiative" and it will be send directly to the Public Service Commission

Dear Secretary Phillips:

As the climate crisis worsens, every household and business in New York must have the opportunity to eliminate their use of fossil fuels, increase their efficiency, and move to renewable energy. This opportunity must include the ability to switch from a fossil fuel or inefficient electric heating and cooling system to an efficient renewable technology such as geothermal or cold climate air source heat pumps. I appreciate and support the increased focus in this Energy Efficiency Proceeding on heat pump incentives and thank the Commission for including a specific heat pump target as part of this policy.

The utilities are poised to take over heat pump rebates in New York State, however their proposals fall short.  Currently, some utilities only make their heat pump rebates available to customers who heat with fuel oil, kerosene, coal or propane, without providing rebates to customers on the utility gas system.

I urge the Commission to direct the utilities to make heat pump incentives available for all types of customers, no matter what type of heating fuel they currently use.  All customers will pay for these programs, and all customers should retain the option of renewable, efficient heating and cooling. It is unfair, discriminatory, and contrary to the state’s climate goals to leave gas customers with no rebates for heat pumps.  

Further, I  urge the Commission to order development of a “cash-for-clunkers” enhanced rebate for heating systems that are 15 years or older. This would help prevent replacement of old fossil fuel furnaces with new furnaces that would burn fossil fuels for another 20 - 30 years.  Instead, we need to incentivize investment in efficient renewable heating systems to replace old fossil fuel heating appliances.

In conclusion, the utilities must be directed to comply with the 5 TBtu heat pump targets established by the state and should be required to pursue all cost-effective energy efficiency. The December budgets set by the Commission should be the minimum that utilities should spend on energy efficiency and heat pump programs. By making heat pumps available for all New Yorkers through innovative and far reaching programs, we will meet our climate goals and lead the nation in the transition off fossil fuels.

Sincerely,

[name]

[City, Zipcode]