Based on what I read in the 4/2 Reporter article (“High rates, hard truths: NYSEG Reps answer questions, explain billing, offer guidance”), it appears that this was a typical NYSEG event whose purpose was to, very nicely and so so very helpfully, let rate payers know that a) the increase isn’t NYEG’s fault, it’s stuff beyond their control, and then tossing around lots of numbers and statistics whose main purpose is to make rate payers feel stupid, and b) to blame the victim (“you’re leaving your lights on for too long”). It’s their standard playbook. And it appears to have worked to a significant degree in Margaretville.
Buried in the article was a critical comment by a rate payer, which deserves to be highligted: “I’m on the co-op with my house. They have the same problems and my bills have gone up 25 or 30% My [business] bills here have gone up 300%. What’s wrong with this picture?”
The Public Service Commission, which sets the rates, is funded primarily by the gas lobby, and they are likely to approve NYSEG’s latest 35% rate increase. One of the few who are fighting this egregious increase is our Congressman, Josh Riley. NYSEG is so terrified of him that they served him a cease-and-desist letter at 10pm at his home, threatening to sue him for ‘defamation’ if he dares to testify at the PSC meeting. An administrative law judge took about 10 minutes to throw it out. NYSEG will do anything they can to keep him from being reelected because they know they’ll be in serious trouble if Democrats take back the House.
If you or someone you know is at risk of having their electric and gas turned off, or if it already has been, I recommend calling the Public Utilities Law Project (utilityproject.org). They can intervene with NYSEG on behalf of the rate payer, and get their lights back on. If the rate payer is SNAP-eligible they can provide pro bono legal services. The hotline number is 877-669-2572.
Kim Van Atta
Walton
