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Several New Yorkers addressed state Public Service Commission members to offer their perspectives on National Grid’s proposed utility rates during a Wednesday afternoon virtual hearing. Under its proposal, monthly gas and electric bill rates for the average residential New Yorker will rise by 20% and 15%, respectively.

Throughout the meeting, attendees expressed concern with the rate increase, citing potential environmental impacts and over-taxing of property owners in middle- to lower-class families. Representatives from companies supporting National Grid discussed potential economic growth and increased business retention as a result of the change.

National Grid introduced the updated rates in May, inciting backlash in central New York and across the state. In August, Citizen Action of New York members protested outside the Syracuse National Grid office, calling for the PSC — which has the final say on utility rates — to reject the company’s suggestions.

CANY, along with other organizations throughout the state, have continued to provide feedback at the commission’s mandatory public hearings about the proposal.

“This is the largest increase National Grid has requested in decades,” Ethan Gormley, a climate organizer with CANY, said Wednesday. “A bill increase of that size will do serious harm to a family living paycheck to paycheck or on a fixed income … how can we even consider further burdening regular working-class families?”

Several attendees also presented potential affordability issues with the new rates. The average New York household with electricity and gas service would see around a $440-per-year increase to their utility bill, or around $37 a month, syracuse.com reported. National Grid officials told syracuse.com that it will give utility discounts for low-income households to increase their utility payments by only $108 a year, or $9 a month.

Gormley, who lives in Clay, said the proposed increase may exacerbate pollution and the effects of climate change in central New York. He raised similar environmental concerns during CANY’s August demonstration, according to WRVO.

Another hearing speaker, Laura Faulk, a National Grid gas and electric customer from Saratoga Springs, said she wants the energy company to provide more detail about where customers’ money is going and how it plans to invest the additional funds into its upstate New York operations.

“I understand the need to maintain a safe and reliable gas system during the transition, but National Grid should be required to evaluate alternatives to simple replacement of aging gas lines, such as thermal energy networks,” Faulk said.

On Wednesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul passed statewide legislation requiring the PSC to publicize certain information prior to proposing rate increases. The law requires the commission to explain the reasoning behind a company’s request.

“New Yorkers deserve to know why there is an increase in rates and how the revenue will be spent,” Hochul said in Wednesday’s release. “These laws represent a new chapter of a fair, open and trustworthy utility system for New Yorkers.”

Some representatives of National Grid’s partnering companies spoke in support of the increases, including Shawna Papale, president of Mohawk Valley EDGE, and Ryan Silva, executive director of the New York State Economic Development Council. Papale said National Grid’s efforts have the potential to spark economic growth through energy infrastructure investments.

National Grid has leveraged around $12 billion in new capital investment across upstate New York and invested around $160 million in the regional economy, leading to 70,000 created or retained jobs, Silva said.

“Nobody wants to see increased costs in business or in their life, but it is a critical component of if you’re going to move the needle on your region and make that happen,” Papale said.

Wednesday marked the last of four scheduled PSC hearings regarding the National Grid proposal. The first four occurred in person throughout September — one in Albany, Clay and Buffalo. If the commission approves the rate increases, they will go into effect next year.

News Editor Julia Boehning contributed reporting to this article.

Published on September 26, 2024 at 12:55 am

Contact Kate: kjacks19@syr.edu