Assemblyman Matt Slater and State Senator Pete Harckham have urged the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) to organize in-person hearings in their districts regarding proposed rate increases by New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG). The proposed hikes would raise electricity rates by 35% and natural gas rates by 39.4%, which the legislators say is about ten times higher than annual inflation.
In a joint letter to Department of Public Service Chair & CEO Rory Christian, Slater and Harckham stated: “We respectfully request that the New York State Public Service Commission hold at least one and hopefully several in-person public hearings in northern Westchester and Putnam regarding the proposed electricity and natural gas rate increases. An in-person hearing will ensure that all affected members of the public, including those without reliable internet access or lack the technological knowledge, have a fair opportunity to voice their concerns directly to the Commission.”
The PSC has previously held two virtual hearings on the issue, but no in-person hearing has taken place within Harckham’s or Slater’s legislative districts. The nearest such event was held in Oneonta, which is 154 miles from Hudson Valley communities served by NYSEG. The utility serves approximately 90,000 customers across northern Westchester and parts of Putnam counties.
Slater commented on this distance: “To put it in perspective, the closest hearing in Oneonta was 154 miles away from those of us in the Hudson Valley who are directly affected by NYSEG’s proposed rate hikes. It’s disingenuous to claim the PSC is truly listening to ratepayers when our entire region has been excluded from the process. Cutting out an entire community is unacceptable,” said Slater. “The PSC refuses to face the people who will feel the impact of these hikes. It begs the question of why. Everyone in the Hudson Valley is feeling the pinch from rising costs—something has to give. The PSC owes it to our residents to show up and listen before approving any increase that will make it even harder for families to make ends meet. I appreciate Senator Harckham’s partnership in demanding accountability from NYSEG and the PSC.”
The lawmakers emphasized that many households are already under financial pressure due to inflation affecting housing, food, healthcare, and other basic needs. In their letter they wrote: “Families and individuals are still facing high costs for housing, food, healthcare, and other essentials. For many, any increase in utility rates represents not just an inconvenience, but a genuine hardship.”
They also referenced findings from Renewable Heat Now indicating that NYSEG’s profits increased by 185% over ten years; last year alone saw $387 million recovered as profit by NYSEG.
“This raises serious questions about the justification for additional rate hikes, particularly when weighed against the financial strain on customers,” according to Slater and Harckham’s letter. “Ratepayers should not be asked to bear a greater burden while investor-owned utilities report record earnings.”
