Anyone who receives and pays a Con Ed bill has seen the rates increasing. Con Edison has asked the state for permission to raise gas and electric prices even more this year, citing the need to cover costs including system upgrades and renewable energy investments.
If the state Public Service Commission (PSC) approves the proposal, the average bill would rise at least 12% over three years for residential electric customers in all five boroughs and Westchester, and at least over 20% over three years for residential gas customers in The Bronx, Manhattan and northern Queens. The new rates would be effective June 1.
The Westchester County Board of Legislators, realizing that most New Yorkers residents may not be unaware of the potential hike, unanimously passed a resolution in opposition to the proposed rate increase, Monday and are informing residents of their right to make their voices heard at the upcoming PSC public hearing.
County Legislator Tyrae Woodson-Samuel sent Black Westchester the following statement.
Today, [Monday, March 27, 2023], the Board’s Legislation and Environment Committees unanimously passed a Resolution in opposition to ConEdison’s proposed rate increase. The full Board will vote on this resolution at our meeting a week from today [Monday, April 3, 2023], and this resolution will be submitted to the PSC as part of their comment period. It will also be presented to the PSC at their public hearings later this week.
Con Ed proposes to raise electric rates over a three-year period by an average of 20% for electric rates and 31% for gas rates and the Board feels strongly that hardworking New Yorkers laboring to meet compounding financial demands should not be forced to shoulder these rate increases.
Residents, organizations and municipalities can additionally raise their voices at the virtual PSC public hearing. These hearings are scheduled for March 29 and March 30, with two sessions on each day: 1 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. Registration can still be made for the March 30 hearings, but you must register by 3pm tomorrow. The DPS must first approve the rates before they go into effect.
For more information, including links to register to speak, click here.
Hoy, los Comités de Legislación y Medio Ambiente de la Junta aprobaron por unanimidad una Resolución en oposición al aumento de tarifas propuesto por Con Edison. La Junta en pleno votará sobre esta resolución en nuestra reunión dentro de una semana a partir de hoy, y esta resolución se presentará al PSC como parte de su período de comentarios. También se presentará al PSC en sus audiencias públicas a finales de esta semana.
Con Ed propone aumentar las tarifas de electricidad durante un período de tres años en un promedio de 20% para las tarifas de electricidad y el 31% para las tarifas de gas, y la Junta está convencida de que los neoyorquinos que trabajan arduamente para satisfacer las demandas financieras compuestas no deben verse obligados a asumir estos amentos de costos.
Los residentes, las organizaciones y los municipios también pueden alzar la voz en la audiencia pública virtual del PSC. Estas audiencias están programadas para el 29 y 30 de marzo, con dos sesiones cada día: 1 p.m. y nuevamente a las 5 p.m. Todavía se puede registrar para las audiencias del 30 de marzo, pero debe registrarse antes de las 3:00 p.m. de mañana. El DPS primero debe aprobar las tarifas antes de que entren en vigencia.
Para obtener más información, incluidos los enlaces para registrarse para hablar, haga clic aquí.
Atentamente,
Again, if you feel your electric bill is already too damn high and rates don’t need to increase anymore, here is what you can do about. Residents can raise their voices at the virtual PSC public hearing. These hearings are scheduled for March 29 and March 30, with two sessions on each day: 1 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. Registration can still be made for the March 30 hearings, but you must register by 3pm TODAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 28th.
For more information, including links to register to speak, click here.
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) must first approve the rates before they go into effect.
AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief of Black Westchester and Co-Owner of Urban Soul Media Group, the parent company, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show. AJ is a Father, Brother, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Hip-Hop Artist - one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.
