By: David Katzenberg
Later this month, the NYS Public Service Commission is expected to vote on whether to approve a proposed rate increase by Con Edison which would go into effect in the coming year.
Brooklyn Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, denounced Con Edison’s request declaring that: “Perhaps Con Edison should first demonstrate that its capable of upgrading its services before we consider their proposed rate increase which hard working New Yorkers cannot afford right now.”
In a letter penned by Assemblyman Eichenstein (who represents the 48th assembly district in Brooklyn) and sent to John B. Rhodes, Chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission, Mr. Eichenstein said: “I know firsthand how my constituents are struggling to pay their utility bills, which are already the highest in the country. Most New Yorkers are low to middle income city residents who pay their utility bills with great difficulty. My office receives countless calls from constituents that are barely making their payments and are reaching out to us for help. Adding this unjustified and costly increase in delivery rates would be a disaster for them, I cannot imagine how they will survive it.”
According to a December 9th article on NY1.com, it indicated that ConEd has proposed rate hikes starting January 1, with additional increases in 2021 and 2022. On average, electric rates will go up by 13 and a half percent in that time. Electric bills will increase 4.2 percent this coming year, then 4.7 percent the following year and another four percent in 2022.
Gas rate hikes will be even larger with a 7.5 percent bump in 2020, then 8.8 and 7.2 percent in the two years after.
That’s a 25 percent increase in total.
The NY Daily News reported in early December that exactly how much one pays Con Ed on a monthly basis depends on how much electricity they use. Under the proposal, someone living in a New York City apartment who uses 300 kilowatt hours per month will see their bill rise 3.9% next year, to $76.43. A 300 kilowatt hour bill would jump 4.5% in 2021 to $79.83, and 3.8% to $82.86 in 2022.
NY1.com reported that groups like AARP are voicing strong opposition for these changes and are urging the governor and public service commission to reject them.
The question is how the increases will affect low and middle-income customers.
“I think it’s very hard for middle class people to live in New York City. You can’t find apartments, you can’t find space, food is more expensive,” said one New Yorker.
It’s awful. We need pay raises in order to pay for these high prices of electricity,” said another New Yorker.
Ten percent of Con Ed customers are already roughly 60 days behind on paying their bills.
