NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that she will take action to block rising utility costs and protect consumers, calling for the rejection of Con Edison's proposed rate increases and ordering a statewide audit of utility company salaries and compensation.
In a letter to Public Service Commission (PSC) Chair and Department of Public Service (DPS) CEO Rory Christian, Hochul urged regulators to reject Con Edison's request to raise electricity rates by 11.4% and natural gas rates by 13.3%.
"The cost of living is too damn high, and New Yorkers need more money in their pockets," Hochul said. "Of course we need safe, reliable energy sources to power our homes and businesses. But utility companies shouldn't be jacking up costs unnecessarily – especially if they're paying their own staff too much."
02.11.25 Governor Kathy Hochul Letter to Rory M Christian by rabia.gursoy on Scribd
Hochul called for a full audit of utility company compensation to ensure that ratepayers are not unfairly burdened by excessive salaries. In response, a Con Edison spokesperson defended the company's pricing and operational costs.
"We've invested 300 million dollars in energy assistance programs for low- and moderate-income customers in 2024 and continue work to enroll all eligible customers, and advocate for policy changes to make utility bills more affordable" the spokesperson said. "We also have a responsibility to continue to safely and efficiently deliver the nation's most reliable power while complying with state laws and regulations. That means fortifying the grid in the face of increasingly severe extreme weather, bringing renewable energy sources online to help meet the state's clean power goals, and supporting the workforce we need to conduct ongoing maintenance and swiftly respond to customer service calls."
Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) also pushed back against Con Edison's proposed increases during a press conference at his Bronx office.
Congressman Ritchie Torres
"Layering double-digit rate increases upon gas delivery overcharges, as Con Ed is proposing to do, would impose an undue hardship on the people of New York, who are paying more and more for less and less," Torres said.
The PSC is expected to review Con Edison's proposal in the coming months.
