Buffalo, NY (WBEN) As the state budget will not be passed on time, a budget extender has been passed. Meanwhile, state Republicans are seeking relief from high utility costs as part of the final state budget.
The first bill, introduced by Senator Tom O’Mara would provide nearly $3 billion in bill credits to ratepayers using unspent funds collected from ratepayers by NYSERDA and utilities with PSC approval for green energy projects. State Republicans say NYSERDA had a total net position of $2,045,624,000 at the end of 2025, with $770 million being held in escrow by utilities for requisition by NYSERDA at the end of 2025 per the Department of Public Service.
The second, S.8463, introduced by Senator Rob Rolison would establish a one-year utility bill tax and surcharge holiday and a two-year green energy gas tax holiday, which Republicans say would provide real and meaningful relief to ratepayers that are paying residential electric rates 50% higher than the national average.
“For years, the Senate GOP has consistently advocated for the repeal of the CLCPA because we see it for what it is - an unnecessary and extremely expensive burden on ratepayers. Given the chance to take action and provide real relief, Albany Democrats instead doubled down on their out-of-touch climate policies, favoring radical environmentalists instead of standing up for struggling New Yorkers. These initiatives to provide relief to ratepayers must be a priority in the final budget,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.
“The amount of unspent funds collected by NYSERDA has grown significantly since Comptroller DiNapoli first pointed to this overcollection in his July 2024 report New York State’s Clean Energy Fund. These funds should not continue to be held to protect against the volatility of collections particularly as the collections are continuous and replenish needed funds. These funds have no impact on the proposed state budget,” the letter reads.
Ortt anticipates the budget to not be ready by mid-May at the latest.
Bills call for tax holiday and NYSERDA bill credits
