Assemblymember Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo, Grand Island) sent a letter to the Public Service Commission (PSC) stating his strong opposition to steep rate increases proposed by NYSEG. The PSC is holding a hearing in Albany today to determine whether or not the proposal for a rate increase can move forward.
"Our economy is reeling from the long lasting impact of a recession and it seems callous and unfair to expect utility customers to pay the outrageous rate increases NYSEG is demanding," said Hoyt.
NYSEG proposes raising the residential electric rate 18.6% and raising the residential gas heating rate 17.4%. Estimates indicate that this could raise the electric bill for families by as much as $12 per month for electricity and $25 per month for natural gas. NYSEG serves 870,000 residential customers across Upstate New York. (See Niagara Gazette story.) http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/local_story_261210846.html
Hoyt said "Natural
gas prices have gone down with most other utilities and transmission costs for
electric and gas have also dropped. Asking for such large rate increases
during a time of national financial hardship and high unemployment rates,
particularly considering how hard economic difficulties have hit Upstate New
York, is just wrong."
2 things.
1) Are electric should be practically free with the falls right next door.
2) Its not the price of gas thats expensive is all those damn delivery fee's, surcharges and other taxes that are added on.
I pay more to deliver the gas to my house that I use in actually natural gas for about 4 months of the year. During the winter delivery is over a 1/3 of my bill. Crazy. Wasn't it national grid last year that wanted rate hikes to pay for upgrades and research and this summer gave $150 million in bonuses to everyone that worked for them.