24 Hours Until Electric Utility Rate Hike

Queens, NY – When New Yorkers open their mail next month they will be surprised to find a larger number on their electric utility bill than they’re used to. Many will wonder why that is and question friends and family as to why that is. The answer is the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) plan to bailout nuclear power plants that would otherwise be closed down.

The rate hike is to bail out aging nuclear power plants operating on Lake Ontario in upstate New York. The plants were built during the Vietnam War era and are among the oldest in the world. In fact, had it not been for the PSC’s multibillion-dollar bailout, at least one of the plants was scheduled to be scrapped, having outlived its expected lifespan.

The increase that all New Yorkers will see on our bills could be catastrophic for many of our neighbors. Of the 800,000 New Yorkers who are two months or more behind on their energy bills, close to 300,000 are ConEd users and this increase, no matter how slight it is argued to be, will inevitably make it more difficult for them to keep up with their monthly energy bills.

Residents will suffer more than we think. Businesses, the MTA, the Health and Hospitals Corporation, schools, city government, and residential ratepayers will all pay more thanks to the plan that was secretly constructed over the summer when no one was watching. All of these extra fees will not go to improving service, lowering prices, or to help New Yorkers in any way. New Yorkers will be paying this increase everywhere they turn.

That is why Senator Avella is advancing legislation that would force New York State regulators to hit the “pause” button to allow for a thorough public review of the deal as well as to grant the public – the people who will pay the additional billions of dollars – the opportunity to have their voices heard.

“I am totally opposed to an increase in electric rates to subsidize failing corporate power plants and put another financial burden on New Yorkers who can least afford it,” added Senator Avella.

Senator Avella is also urging New Yorkers to contact the Governor and ask for him to reexamine the PSC’s plan until legislators and residents can get the opportunity to shine a light on it.

New Yorkers can contact Governor Cuomo’s office at the following addresses:

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form