Con Edison customers are getting zapped again with higher electric bills – hiking rates 12.6% over three years.
The new increase takes effect next month, pushing the average residential customer’s $83.60 monthly bill up to $87.23 in the first year, $90.71 in the second and $94.11 in the third.
“A record number of New Yorkers can’t pay their electricity bills as it is today, much less with this increase,” said Public Service Commission Chairman Garry Brown, who said regulators tried to keep the increase as small as possible.
Utility officials, state regulators and independent watchdogs agreed Thursday to the compromise package, which is 40% lower than Con Ed requested last year.
Not all of the rate hike is the utility’s fault: The company said 23% of it will pay for higher property taxes, 7% for other taxes, and 17% for pension costs.
“The new three year electric delivery rate plan provides long-term rate certainty for customers, and provides funding for Con Edison to continue investments needed to maintain system readiness and operating reliability,” the company said.
There was one bit of good news, though – all Con Ed customers will share a one-time refund of $36.4 million on their August bills, thanks to a recalculation of earlier approved spending.
The refund amount for an average customer will be about $5.35. State regulators also opened a case against the utility that could result in a $1 million fine for the April 2009 gas explosion that blew up a house in Floral Park, Queens, killing Ghanwatti Boodram, a 40-year-old mother of three.
The Public Service Commission found Con Ed workers caused the blast by not following their own rules for fixing dangerous gas leaks.
“We do not believe our responders violated procedures that existed at the time, but we have completely revamped the way we respond to gas leaks,” said Con Ed spokesman Michael Clendenin.
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6 Responses
This is absolutely ridiculous. They know people can’t afford their bills but their greed just thirsts up up up. That’s it I’m changing to a cheaper well known service and thereby but my $350 monthly bill in half. And so should everyone else do. Let them see that greed doesn’t prosper. There are some much cheaper and very reputable companies out their. Look in the weekly link it’s advertised their in classifieds, people are very happy and recommend the great service and savings.
This is uncontrolled capitalism at its finest.
Perhaps New York should be open to building more power plants, and to drilling for oil/gas locally.
Rav Boruch, it seems to me that you didn’t even read the article. This is socialism at its best! Taxes were heaped upon them thus giving it over to the consumers. Alright, in a socialist country you wouldn’t get utility bill only a tax bill, making it better for the poor. This means: Liberal America is worse than socialism!
Just wait a bit and things of such will happen with everything all over the country. Let’s not forget that the independent and even democratic leaders of New York declared the Deathcare bill disastrous for our state. Premiums will go up, prices and bills will go up, while businesses will shrink. But you can’t take it away – History was made. It reminded me of those that elected this incompetent person to the White House just to make History.
Let’s elect the true American-principle politicians, then you will see capitalism at its best!
#2 – Rav Boruch – Put on you glasses and read very carefully “The company said 23% of it will pay for higher property taxes, 7% for other taxes, and 17% for pension costs.”
Aren’t your socialist buddies in the White House the ones calling for higher taxes?
These rate hikes are ridiculous; there is a much cheaper alternative for both electricity and gas. I personally have enrolled for supply service with a good frum company called Major Energy, their lower rates have saved me hundreds of dollars already. I would recommend to everyone to try it out, it is a real legitimate way to save money on your utility bills.