Lawmakers push back against ConEd rate hikes
Nearly 100 state and local lawmakers recently sent a letter to the state Public Service Commission urging regulators to block the proposed increases.
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When Yvonne Daniels opened her Con Edison bill this month, she was being charged more than $160 more than from the month before.
“That is a big difference. I said, 'What the heck?'” She said.
Daniels, who lives in East New York, says rising utility costs are making it harder to keep up with everyday expenses, especially as food, gas and medical bills continue to climb.
Her concerns come as Con Edison seeks to raise electric and gas rates starting this year, a proposal that has sparked pushback from lawmakers across New York.
Nearly 100 state and local lawmakers recently sent a letter to the state Public Service Commission urging regulators to block the proposed increases. Among them is New York City Council Member Chris Banks, who represents parts of Brooklyn.
“We can’t address the affordability crisis by continuing to allow corporations to wreak economic havoc on our constituents,” Banks said. “Something has to give.”
If approved, the plan would raise electricity bills by an average of 3.5% this year, followed by increases of 3.2% in 2027 and 3.1% in 2028. Gas bills would increase by an average of 4.4% this year, 5.7% in 2027 and 5.6% in 2028.
“We can’t afford to stay in New York,” Daniels said. “That’s why people are moving to other states.”
In a statement, Con Edison said, "We recognize affordability is a critical issue as costs rise across housing, transportation, food, and healthcare. That’s why we’ve expanded our energy affordability program and offer flexible payment options to help ease the burden. We work every day to balance the investments needed for resilience and reliability with customer costs while supporting the communities we serve.”
The company also noted that the current proposal is significantly lower than its initial request last year, which would have raised electric bills by 19% and gas bills by 13%.
The Public Service Commission said it will review the lawmakers’ letter, but noted that most parties involved in negotiations supported or did not oppose a joint proposal that reduced Con Edison’s original rate request by 87% for 2026.
Still, for customers on fixed incomes, even smaller increases are too much.
“We’re stretched to the max,” said Judith Huggins, who lives in East New York. “Every penny we get is used just to survive.”
The Public Service Commission has not yet announced when it will make a final decision on the proposed rate hikes.
