NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that the state has reached an agreement with Nation Grid to lift the current moratorium on gas service in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, effective immediately.
According to a tweet from the governor, National Grid will pay a $36 million penalty for the adverse impact of its moratorium as part of the agreement.
According to a release from the governor's office, National Grid has identified a short-term solution to serve all customers and new applicants for the next two years and will explore long-term options that they hope to have in place by the fall of 2021.
"This agreement is a victory for customers," Cuomo said in a statement. "National Grid will pay a significant penalty for its failure to address the supply issue, its abuse of its customers, and the adverse economic impact they have caused."
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As part of the agreement, National Grid will analyze and present viable options to address the long-term supply issue including: renewable energy sources, conservation strategies, a new pipeline, LNG facilities, CNG facilities and interoperable systems.
National Grid will analyze these options over the next three months and present them to the public in an open and transparent manner through a series of public meetings in Queens, Brooklyn, Nassau, and Suffolk. These meetings will be conducted in coordination with local elected officials.
"Today it was made clear that we will not allow any business - big or small - to extort New Yorkers in order to advance its own interests," Cuomo adds.
A monitor paid by National Grid will be appointed by the state to oversee the utility for two years and will report to the State of New York and the Public Service Commission.