The Free 100-Foot Gas Line Rule Is Ending
For decades, New York's “100-foot rule” required utilities like National Grid to run up to 100 feet of gas line to a new residential customer without billing that customer directly. The cost was spread across everyone else's gas bills. For a typical Long Island house with a main out front, the service line cost the homeowner nothing.
On December 19, 2025, Governor Hochul signed legislation (S.8417/A.8888) repealing the rule. According to the Governor's office, utilities still have to serve you, but new residential applicants must pay 100 percent of the material and installation costs of their gas service. The repeal came with a grace period for the Public Service Commission to write the rules, and recent reporting puts the effective date in 2027.
What it means for you: if you've been thinking about switching from oil to gas, a complete application filed before the repeal takes effect may save you thousands on the service line. National Grid estimated the average upstate customer would pay about $7,000 for a new service once the rule ends, and downstate costs are higher. Ask National Grid how the changeover date applies to an application in progress.
Who Does What, and Who Pays
The meter is the dividing line. Everything up to it is National Grid's work; everything after it belongs to you and your contractor.
| Piece | Who | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gas main in the street | National Grid | Extension needed if the main doesn't reach your frontage |
| Service line (main → meter) | National Grid installs | Free up to 100 ft today; applicant-paid after the repeal |
| Gas meter + regulator | National Grid | Utility sets the location based on clearances |
| House piping (meter → appliances) | Homeowner's licensed plumber | Permitted, pressure-tested, inspected |
| Boiler/furnace, water heater, venting | Homeowner's contractor | Chimney liner often needed for gas |
| Lawn, driveway, walkway restoration | Varies | Ask in writing what National Grid restores |
Step by Step: Main to Meter to Boiler
- 1
Confirm a gas main reaches your house
Check National Grid's availability lookup and look for meters on neighboring houses. If the main ends a few houses away, ask National Grid whether an extension is needed before you spend money on equipment.
- 2
Add up your total gas load
National Grid sizes the service line and meter from the BTU rating of every gas appliance: boiler or furnace, water heater (a tankless unit alone can be ~199,000 BTU), range, dryer, fireplace, generator. Under-reporting the load is the most common reason a service ends up too small.
- 3
Submit the new-service application
Apply through National Grid's Long Island new-service process. Have your account set up, the property owner's details, and the appliance load ready. National Grid counts an application as complete only after identity verification and its acceptance.
- 4
Agree on the meter location
National Grid picks a location that meets clearances from windows, doors, dryer vents, and air intakes. Agree on it before the trench so your plumber can plan the inside piping to the right wall.
- 5
Mark-out, trench or bore, and service installation
Underground utilities get marked through 811 (Dig Safely New York). National Grid then trenches or directionally bores from the main to the house and installs the service line and meter, usually in a single day once it's scheduled.
- 6
Interior piping, permit, and inspection
Your licensed plumber runs and pressure-tests the house piping and connects the appliances under a town or county permit. After the inspection passes, National Grid unlocks the meter and lights the appliances.
What a Gas Hookup Costs on Long Island
| Item | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Service line within 100 ft (current rule) | Often $0 to the homeowner | Until the repeal takes effect |
| Service line after the repeal | Applicant pays full cost | National Grid estimated ~$7,000 average upstate; downstate higher |
| Main extension (no main on your street) | Quoted by National Grid | Can be shared when neighbors apply together |
| Interior gas piping | $800–$3,000 | Depends on run length and number of appliances |
| Permits + inspection | $200–$500 | Town or county building department |
| Chimney liner (if converting a boiler/furnace) | $800–$2,500 | Stainless liner for gas venting |
The gas line is only part of the bill when you're leaving oil. Our oil to gas conversion guide covers the boiler or furnace swap, oil tank removal, and rebates that usually come with it.
What Holds Up Long Island Gas Hookups
An incomplete application
Missing account setup, owner details, or appliance load keeps the clock from starting.
An undersized load
Adding a tankless water heater or a generator after the service is designed can mean a bigger meter, and another wait.
Meter location disputes
Settle the location before the trench. Relocating a set meter is a separate job.
Seasonal backlog
Fall is when everyone wants heat. Applications filed in spring and summer generally move faster.
No main at the frontage
Main extensions need their own design and approval, and possibly a cost share.
If Gas Doesn't Reach Your Street
Big stretches of the East End, the North Fork, and all of Fire Island have no gas main. If you're a block or more from the nearest main, an extension rarely pays off, and it gets more expensive once applicants carry the full cost. The realistic upgrades from oil there are a high-efficiency propane system or a cold-climate heat pump, which also qualifies for the larger state incentives.