Senator Lea Webb Urges Cortland County Residents to Take Action Against Proposed National Grid Rate Hikes

CORTLAND, NY – Senator Lea Webb is calling on Cortland County residents to raise their voices in opposition to National Grid’s proposed rate hikes for gas and electric services. With the Public Service Commission (PSC) expected to vote on the proposal soon, these rate increases could have significant financial consequences for working families and small businesses in the area.

Under National Grid’s proposal, customers in Cortland County could face the following increases:

• Electric Delivery Revenue: National Grid is requesting an additional $525 million annually, which would result in a 20% increase in electric delivery charges. This could raise the average household's electric bill by approximately $19 per month, or 15%.
• Gas Delivery Revenue: The proposal also includes a $148 million increase for gas delivery, raising gas bills by 28%. For residential customers, this would amount to an average increase of $18 per month, or 20%.

Combined, these hikes could add up to $440 per year to the bills of households using both electricity and gas, placing additional strain on residents already facing rising living costs.

“At a time when many families are already struggling with inflation and high utility bills, these rate hikes are unacceptable,” said Senator Lea Webb. “My office regularly hears from constituents who are dealing with inaccurate bills, service disruptions, and late fees. This proposed increase would only deepen the burden on low-income and marginalized families in Upstate New York. It is crucial that the PSC understands how these hikes would negatively impact our community. I encourage National Grid customers in Cortland County to voice their concerns known to the Public Service Commission and the Governor. Community voices are critical in opposing these rate hikes.”

How to Submit Comments:

• Online: Visit the PSC website [LINK] and search for cases 24-E-0322 (electric) [LINK] or 24-G-0323 (gas) [LINK]. Once the case is open, click on “Post Comments.”
• By Mail: Address written comments to Michelle Phillips, Secretary to the Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350.
• By Phone: Call 1-800-335-2120 to submit a phone comment. While phone comments are not transcribed, they are summarized and shared with the commission.

Senator Webb remains committed to advocating for working families in the Southern Tier and fighting against unjustified rate increases.

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