Felder: “Con Edison Rate Hikes are Real Chutzpah!”

NYS Senator Simcha Felder joined Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris in leading the call on the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) to deny Con Edison’s rate hike case. In all, over 50 state legislators signed off on a letter demanding a public hearing before finalizing their decision. You can read the full letter here: https://bit.ly/3DUWx0n. 

Con Edison has asked the PSC for permission to raise consumer prices by a whopping 17.6% starting January 2023. The last public hearing on the rate case took place in March 2022 – well before Con Ed announced they would seek to pass-on substantial price increases to consumers this winter. New Yorkers already face some of the highest rates in the nation. Despite that, they continue to ask for price increases for delivery charges that would raise bills for consumers even more. 

“Con Ed has real chutzpah asking for rate hikes on top of rate hikes, which we know are the direct result of their own poor planning. Con Ed should not get one more penny. They treat the pockets of 4 million New Yorkers like their personal piggy bank! New Yorkers are battling rising costs just to keep their families clothed and fed and must not be blindsided by crushing utility bills,” said Senator Simcha Felder. 

In his letter to the PSC, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris wrote, “These increased utility costs are hurting thousands of New Yorkers. Until the Legislature enacts a systemic solution, the PSC must investigate, act and work to provide relief to New York’s ratepayers — now.” 

Low-income New Yorkers who receive governmental assistance benefits may qualify for a discount on their monthly energy bill through the Energy Affordability Program. For more information, call Senator Felder’s office, 718-253-2015.