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The Republican caucus of the Ulster County Legislature has voiced strong opposition to the proposed rate hikes by New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), calling them "unprecedented and unaffordable." The utility's proposal includes a more than 30 percent increase in electric and gas delivery charges, leading to an average household energy bill rise of over 20 percent.
Deputy Minority Leader Craig Lopez emphasized the financial strain this would place on residents already dealing with inflation and rising costs. He stated, "Before asking families to pay more, they should have to show where every dollar is going, how it will improve reliability, and why their shareholders aren’t sharing more of the burden." The caucus has communicated their concerns to the State Public Service Commission.
The opposition is not limited to Ulster County. A bipartisan group of around 70 community members gathered at SUNY Oneonta to oppose the rate hikes, which could result in a typical residential customer experiencing a monthly bill increase of $33.12. Many attendees criticized NYSEG, a subsidiary of Avangrid Inc., for prioritizing profits over customers. State Senator Peter Oberacker noted receiving over 570 complaints about electricity costs and advocated for a "full account level audit" of NYSEG's operations.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) is conducting hearings across Upstate New York to gather public input before deciding on the rate increase. The PSC's decision will determine if the proposed hikes will be implemented.