The public comment session will take place at PS 122.
July 22, 2019, Jackie Strawbridge
Astorians will get the opportunity tonight to comment on Con Edison’s plan to increase electricity and gas rates starting in 2020.
Council Member Costa Constantinides will host a public comment session regarding the rate hike at P.S. 122 (21-21 Ditmars Blvd.) at 7 p.m. this evening.
The rate hike in question would raise the average monthly residential electric bill $4.45 to $81.78. Monthly residential gas bills would increase $17.28 to $176.34. These changes would go into effect in January 2020.
The proposal is under review by the New York State Public Service Commission.
Tonight’s meeting comes on the heels of a massive outage in Queens and Brooklyn during this past weekend’s heat wave, leaving tens of thousands of residents without power.
As of Monday afternoon, there were about 2,000 Queens customers still without power, according to a Con Ed spokesperson.
“New York might be the City that Never Sleeps, yet Con Edison decided it was bedtime for 30,000 customers who lost power Sunday night – with little-to-no warning,” Constantinides said in a statement Monday. “Con Ed leadership categorically failed the people of this City throughout last week’s heatwave. New Yorkers deserve better than this, and it’s time we fully examine how we power the Big Apple moving forward.”
A Con Ed spokesperson said in response, “We’re focused on restoring the remaining customers that are out and once it’s done, we’ll be working with the City to hash out what went wrong and to try to improve to the future.”
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27 Comments
Yes, you can comment on it. If it makes you feel better. But ultimately ConEd is a state sanctioned monopoly and will raise the rates if they feel like it. So you could also complain to your wall for as much good as it will do.
The NYC Sanitation functions BEAUTIFULLY!! Maybe if ConEd was not a cocky private monopoly , maybe then it would function better than they do now! One of ConEd’s big mistakes is running their operation as if it’s a business. ConEd FORGETS that it’s a UTILITY first and foremost!!! And a UTILITY needs to have enough manpower to MAINTAIN its equipment and its infrastructure. What ConEd has been doing in the past few years is dramatically reducing large sections of their workforce to save money. That loss of manpower means less people who are maintaining the grid, which means power outages are more likely.
Do you know a large portion of your electric bill is taxes? Maybe you should ask your local elected’s why that is
Dead Tax- A portion of your Con Ed bill is “taxes” because it’s just one of the ways Con Edison passes costs for loans or project costs fronted by the gov’t back to the public for repayment. Pseudo capitalism at it’s best.
ConEd makes $13 BILLION dollars every year. 13 BILLION DOLLARS!!!!! There’s no reason to raise rates!!! What they SHOULD do instead is save millions of dollars by trimming their excessively top-heavy management staff company-wide!!! Out of 15000 people, there are over 8000 managers (most of whom gross well over $100,000/year). There are so many levels of management at ConEd that it’s ridiculous. Section-managers, then General Managers, then Directors, then VPs, and Senior VPs. They have a VP for everything!! They have a VP for wiping your butt!! They’re so top heavy and they’re constantly looking for ways to save a nickle or a dime by reducing service quality and reducing field manpower and reducing the maintenance of their infrastructure. Instead they should reduce 50% of their management staff and they’d be much better. And New York City would be much better off!!!
Is that revenue or net profit ?
Jon- According to Con Edison’s Wikipedia page$13.5 Billion is revenue. Profits are about $2.5 billion, still very impressive.
Even in the winter I get a bill saying I’m using more, which is b.s. Go to Times Square after dark and it looks like it’s the afternoon. It’s great for safety but how much of a discount does the area get on rates that we residents are paying for?
If they increase the rate also should reimburse their customers for product loss. How many people lost money by through food on garbage because refrigerator had no electricity. How many businesses close the doors because no electricity. Reimbursement should be added in agreement if any customer loose any food products and equipment.
What do u have in your fridge? How many Coors Light?
Ny needs to fire con ed and get a new supplier
I’m not sure it is that easy to do.
Maybe a better option is to have a tax deduction program so that homes / buildings can install solar / battery systems.
MONOPOLY… maaannn they built hotels on this property, good luck kickin them out.
The bills are getting insane. I barely use the AC, only on the hottest nights, and the bill is still $100 + for a small apt. Unfortunately, ConEd has a de facto monopoly and has apparently not invested in renewable sources either. We need something better and affordable. I wish I had been able to go to the meeting.
It’s actually a de juro Monopoly
I will be there nursing an ice cold 32 oz Ballantine in a brown paper bag
With the flawless service they deliver an increase is warranted. New York is the greatest so we should have the highest taxes as well as the highest utility rates! Move back to your flyover states if you can’t take the increase.
They make $13 billion every year dude. 13 BILLION dollars. And u want to pay extra for electric? You’re a special type aren’t u…?
I live on a fixed income I can’t afford to pay much more I live alone in a small apartment my bill is on a average of 60-65 a month during the winter I’m afraid to use my AC in the summer because it will cost 80-90 dollars Don’t raise the rates the low income will be hurt.
Should have planned better when you were younger then. Businesses need to make money-they aren’t charities. Your fixed income will suit you well in regions without such high costs of living. Why suffer anxiety if a bill goes up 10% when you can live with less stress?
Joh Fredersen-Everyone needs money not just profitable businesses. You shouldn’t be so presumptuous you don’t know Victoria’s story or history, you come off as a blowhard.
Aren’t you brave for defending the honor of someone who posts on a public forum. How noble. I didn’t presume a thing. I based my reply on what was posted by Victoria. Anyone who has been in the workforce for the past 20-30 years has heard about planning for retirement. In the event of disability, that should have been a priority in her life-to plan for a better future when her faculties/mobility would be compromised. Instead she chooses-through her own free will-to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world on a fixed income. If a 6% increase to her Con Edison bill will send her to financial ruin, how does that make me a blowhard? If anything, it makes her about to be a complete moron. But you go ahead and be the champion of the disabled and elderly who are held prisoner here in our wonderful city. They need advocates like you. Why don’t you pay her utilities for a month so she has some breathing room instead of being a keyboard warrior…
@Fredersen-There appear to be quite a few “ifs” in your statement for a person who knows it all. You know what they about the queen and “if”.haha Dave sure has you pegged dead on.
@Mac-I never professed to know it all. Anyone with half a brain has been made aware of financial planning for their imminent retirement. Those who neglect this fact are subject to what Victoria is now experiencing. I don’t know what they say about the queen and if-you choose to speak in riddles. I don’t.
Yadda yadda yadda. Income inequality is only increasing. Greed… it’s what this system was based off. Small business are harder to open, people are working longer harder hours in corporate. To not be able to afford to buy anything, leasing life. Paying rent, leasing car, leasing phone, leasing music, leasing tv shows. U work to pay for Bill’s you never really OWN. You’ll never be able to save. It’s the system. Don’t get trapped. Save money, buy a car, buy a phone, eat healthy home cooking, eventually purchase property. Nobody needs these extra bills, we just think we do cuz the next person on social media does. And it’s all a competition, u have to be better than the next person. That’s capitalism, right? It’s a never ending circle. Dont fall in the system. It’s all made for you to work, and pay for things you dont own for CORPORATE to take all ur money… support your local business and say f you to corporate slavery.
You live on a fixed income and insist on living in NYC?
Who’s posting under my name? Get your own, copy cat!