By: Daniel Axelrod |
The state Public Service Commission is seeking consumer feedback on double-digit electric and gas rate hikes proposed by New York State Electric & Gas Corporation.
NYSEG is seeking annual increases of $156.7 million or 20.4 percent for electricity revenues and $6.3 million or 3 percent for gas delivery revenues.
NYSEG has largely attributed the proposed electricity cost increase to the expense of vegetation management, according to the state PSC.
NYSEG projects residential bill increases of $10.17 for the average monthly electric bill and $1.05 for the average monthly gas bill.
Among the ways that commenters can offer feedback are by mailing them to Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, New York Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350; by calling 1-800-335-2120 or by emailing secretary@dps.ny.gov.
Commenters should reference “Case 19-E-0378” for NYSEG’s electric rates and/or “Case 19-G-0379″ for gas rates.
Among other local utilities, Central Hudson is currently operating under a PSC-approved rate hike plan running from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021.
Under the plan, total average residential electric bills using 625 kilowatt-hours per month are experiencing an increase of 1.33 percent to bills in the first year; nearly 3 percent in year two; and 4.41 percent year-three.
Total average residential natural gas bills using 910 hundred cubic feet per year are seeing increases of 2.05 percent, 4.4 percent and 5.45 percent, respectively in years one, two and three.
Orange & Rockland customers are operating under a three-year rate hike plan from January to Dec. 31, 2021.
O&R’s natural gas rates are increasing 1.5 percent this year, roughly 0.6 percent in year-two and approximately 0.8 percent in year-three, while electric rates are climbing 2.4 percent this year and 2.5 percent, respectively, in years two and three.
