Residents Voice Opposition to Proposed Rate hikes at Public Hearing
[Town/City, State] – Residents packed a recent town hall hearing to express strong concerns regarding proposed rate increases from New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E).The hearing, led by the state’s Public Service Commission, provided a platform for community members to detail frustrations with rising costs, customer service issues, and a perceived lack of transparency from the utility companies.
The public Service Commission (PSC), chaired by CEO Rory Christian and comprised of seven governor-appointed members approved by the state senate, is responsible for setting delivery rates for gas and electricity – costs based on infrastructure and transportation – distinct from supply rates which fluctuate with market demand. The commission is currently reviewing rate cases submitted by NYSEG and RG&E, a process that includes public input before a final decision is reached. This process is especially crucial now as residents face increasing financial pressures and question the justification for higher utility bills.
“Your participation in this process is crucial,” stated Public Service Commissioner Denise Sheehan during the hearing. “We want to hear from you. We want to hear your experiences. We want to hear your stories. We want to hear what your experiences has been with respect to service from NYSEG and RG&E.”
Residents at the hearing voiced complaints centered around steadily increasing rates, slow response times to service requests, and difficulties obtaining clear information about how funds are allocated. Many argued that the companies have not demonstrated sufficient improvements in service to warrant increased revenue through rate hikes, citing a recent state audit as further evidence.
Administrative Law Judges Tara Percy and Ashley Moreno from the Department of Public Service oversaw the public testimony, while Commissioners Sheehan and David Valesky observed.
Patrick O’Brien ’14, a staff attorney with the Public utility Law project of New York, noted the thoroughness of the community’s engagement. “A lot of the speakers really did their homework,” O’Brien said. “They knew about that corporate structure, the subsidiaries, that the company is international. A lot of them brought in bill inserts and bills, and they checked the website. And so people are really educating themselves about what’s going on with the company and how they can educate themselves, but also see how it operates.”
