AARP & PULP Praise NYS Utility Regulators for Cutting Proposed NYSEG & RG&E Rate Hikes

Organizations Had Fought Initially-Proposed Double-Digit Increases

ALBANY, N.Y.— AARP New York and the Public Utility Law Project (PULP) today praised state utility regulators for significantly reducing a proposed NYSEG/RG&E rate hike covering the next three years.

Following is a joint statement from AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel and PULP Executive Director Richard Berkley.

“State utility regulators did the right thing by knocking down an unconscionable rate hike proposal by NYSEG and RG&E and approving a much more reasonable three-year deal for consumers.

“The 2% annual electric delivery rate increases – 1.6% in the first year for RG&E customers – and a modest gas delivery rate increase are far more sensible and compassionate during one of the worst economic crises in the last century.

“These increases are a fraction of the proposal that went before the State Public Service Commission (PSC) - opposed by both AARP and PULP – that would have raised NYSEG customers’ electric delivery rates by nearly 25% and RG&E’s electric delivery rates by more than 15% over the next three years.

“AARP and PULP also support the PSC for approving a new emergency relief program that includes a one-time bill credit of $100 to low-income residential and small business customers and those on arrearage management.

“The order also extends the low-income program to all customers eligible for the federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) rather than only those able to receive HEAP payments, and it invests in reliability through improved tree-trimming.

“Despite these important steps in the right direction, we continue to have some concerns.

“We don’t think this is the time for over $400 million for new ‘smart’ meters and subsidies for electric vehicles being paid for by ratepayers. We also oppose an increase in the minimum monthly charge - to $17 and $22 in the third year for NYSEG and RG&E customers, respectively – when New York already has the highest minimum monthly charges in the nation. And we can’t afford a 72% capital investment increase because of, among other things, subsidies promoting electric heat pumps as opposed to investment that will keep the lights on and improve reliability and resilience as the frequency and severity of storms continues to increase.”

Contact: Erik Kriss, ekriss@aarp.org

Follow AARP New York on Twitter:  @AARPNY and Facebook: AARP New York

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name.  As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

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