NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Some New Yorkers saw dramatic increases in their energy bills lately and New York officials are calling on Con Edison to explain the sudden surge in cost to consumers.
Gov. Hochul, along with New York’s utility regulators, are calling on the state’s energy providers to increase outreach and education efforts for consumers as energy prices and bills continue to surge.
“The extreme utility bill increases all of us are seeing are having a serious impact on our household budgets, and in response, we are taking action,” Hochul said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the governor announced that the Public Service Commission sent letters to utility providers urging them to “communicate proactively, protect customers, and mitigate costs impacts wherever possible, including through a variety of buying methods and hedges.”
The letters come after Attorney General Letitia James sent her own letter to Con Edison, which was released Monday, calling on the company to explain the reason for the higher bills with no warning as well asking the company to remind customers about affordability options like deferred payments and bill assistance.
“Hardworking New Yorkers shouldn’t have to make sacrifices to keep the lights on or to stay warm during the coldest months of the winter,” said James in a statement. “Utility companies have a responsibility to make sure consumers’ bills are fair and accurate, and my office is determined to hold them to that standard.”
Thousands complained to the attorney general’s office about the high bill costs for the January billing cycle with some consumers reporting bills three times as high as their previous one.
“Consumers found out about these rate hikes through neighbors, on Twitter, or by opening their own stomach-churning bill. Con Edison has the responsibility to proactively reach out to consumers about anticipated rate increases and affordability options,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “As so many households suffer from lost income and higher expenses at this time, the cost of keeping the lights and heat on should not be another burden, and we're still waiting on answers from Con Edison about this outrageous billing cycle.”
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