Buffalo Ledger

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan is urging the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) to reject National Grid's proposal to raise rates for electric and natural gas services. The utility seeks a 15-percent increase in electric rates and a 20-percent increase for natural gas.

In a letter to the PSC, Senator Gallivan calls the proposed increases harmful to residents he represents and others across the state. He has also heard from customers of New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG), who are experiencing higher electric bills after the PSC granted NYSEG a rate increase in 2023.

“I am troubled by these increases and the financial impact on individuals and families across Western New York,” Senator Gallivan said. “The requests by utilities to raise rates shed additional light on the significant costs associated with implementation of the state’s climate policies, including the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, or CLCPA, which is unaffordable and unsustainable.”

Adopted in 2019, the CLCPA requires the state to dramatically reduce its use of fossil fuels like oil and gas, with an increased reliance on electricity and renewable energy. Senator Gallivan voted against this measure, arguing that a detailed cost analysis was needed to determine its impact on utility companies and ratepayers.

“The required cost analysis has yet to be completed, but it is evident that the state’s climate policies, in their current form, are unattainable,” Senator Gallivan said. “We must work to ensure a cleaner energy future, but the recommendations included in the CLCPA are unachievable and cost prohibitive. I worry increased electric rates are only the beginning, and I further urge the PSC to recommend climate policies that are attainable, reliable, and affordable.”

Residents concerned about higher rates are encouraged to contact their utility providers and voice their concerns to the PSC.