Con Edison plant on the East River (Wikimedia Commons)
Jan. 17, 2020 By Kristen Torres
New Yorkers will be paying more for gas and electricity.
The state’s Public Service Commission signed off on an agreement with Con Edison Thursday that allows the company to raise customer rates incrementally over the next three years.
Under the plan, the cost of electricity for residents who use about 600 kilowatt hours per month will rise 4.2 percent this year– equating to about $5 per month. In 2021, their bill will rise an additional 4.7 per and in 2022 it will go up again by 4 percent.
Gas rate hikes will be even larger with a 7.5 percent jump this year for residents who use about 100 therms per month. Those users will then see an increase of 8.8 percent and 7.2 percent in the following years.
The commission said that the final increases were a fraction of what the company had initially proposed.
“The progressive plan we have adopted…benefits customers and includes provisions that further important state and Commission objectives,” said John Rhodes, Commission Chair of the PSC.
However, the hike drew criticism from local leaders like Council Member Costa Constantinides who said it would hurt low-income earners.
Constantinides said in a statement that the PSC had put the needs of the fossil fuel industry before city residents.
“Commissioners gave Con Edison their blessing to raise rates off the backs of people already struggling to pay their bills,” Constantinides said in a statement. “History will be unkind to this decision.”
Con Edison says it will spend the additional revenue on its gas and electric infrastructure, as well as to tackle climate change.
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10 Comments
This is why they killed Tesla he discovered Free energy free electricity For everyone it’s a shame that we have to be slaves to this industry that is Bleeding Most of us dry month after month. I wish someone can come up with what Tesla did So we all can have free energy.
Yes! And salaries should be free too. I’m tired of leaving my house every morning to make money to pay for this stuff that should be free. Everything should be free!
This increase is for residents who use a high amount of energy. For reference we’re a two person household in a one bedroom condo with central AC and our average monthly use is 250 kw/month. Households using over 600 is excessive and bad for the environment. Constantinides’ environmentalist platform contradicts his argument of not raising rates for the excessive electricity users. If some low income households can afford to waste electricity then they should pay extra for damaging the planet.
Please tell me where you read this? The article above is to give you an average of the cost increase if you used 600 kwh. Prices will be increased for all customers from my understanding. It doesn’t matter how much you use, your bill will be going up. Obviously it will be higher for those using more but everyone will be seeing an increase. Wanting someone else to pay more because they use more is what’s wrong. It should cost more for anyone. They are making tons of money and most people are trying to conserve.
I understand now. The article is misleading because it looks like someone who would use that much electricity would get the increase, not someone who uses far less. In any case if you can afford to waste electricity then you can afford a small increase.
No one wants to pay higher prices. But not raising the prices encourages people to use more energy then necessary and prevents energy companies from making improvements to the infrastructure. Obviously this barely known politician is making this statement to provoke knee jerk reactions among voters before the election.
*than
Maybe they are seeing loses in their profits due to customers switching to solar and with new efficient bulbs / fixtures. This is a money grab plan and simple. The delivery charges are almost twice the actual cost of the usage. 12% increase over 3 years, no one is earning that in salary increases. Improvements in infrastructure cannot always be on the customers back, how about you make less profits for the new few years…. yeah okay. If their business wasn’t making profits I can see a rate hike but to pay for there cost of doing business is insane. And just like oil prices will the costs go back down? How can it be so much cheaper in other cities and show high in NY?? Because there is no one standing up.
I agree with Costas. Thanks you.
Me too. Moreover electricity should be free for everyone.