Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced that he fully supports the Town of Shandaken’s resolution to initiate an investigation with the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS)
New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) provides electric service to Ulster County residents in Shandaken and Hardenburgh
SHANDAKEN, N.Y. - Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced today that he fully supports the action taken at the Shandaken Town Board meeting last night, where members voted to initiate an investigation with the Department of Public Service (DPS) into a New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) rate increase request. In May, the final phase of a previously State approved 3-year rate increase for NYSEG went into effect. Last week, NYSEG requested state approval for yet another rate increase of 13-22%, or $10-18 per bill for 1.2 million customers. NYSEG currently provides electric service to Ulster County residents in Shandaken and Hardenburgh.
“It’s ridiculous and completely unconscionable that on the heels of one major rate increase, NYSEG is now requesting yet another rate hike. Ulster County residents are already struggling to make ends meet, and now NYSEG is egregiously raising rates on folks who essentially have no other option for their utilities,” County Executive Ryan said. “I join Governor Kathy Hochul in calling on the Department of Public Service to scrutinize and ultimately stop this proposed rate increase.”
“NYSEG needs to be a more responsible neighbor; take care of their customers first, maintain infrastructure and control costs,” said Supervisor, Town Of Shandaken Peter DiSclafani. “The Town Board of Shandaken has heard continuous complaints from residents about the impact of the sudden rate increases.”
The resolution passed by the Shandaken Town Board states that the cost of utilities have risen exponentially, up to 60% higher since the month of December 2021, causing undue burden on customers, and the Town Board has determined the current rates to be untenable and unjustly inflated. The Board found that NYSEG erred in its responsibility to reasonably notify customers of the projected increases and ensure customers are protected from price volatility in the market. The Town Board of Shandaken called on the DPS to initiate an investigation into the rates of NYSEG under Section 71 of the public Service Law - the same section of law that gave County Executive Ryan the legal authority to call for an investigation into Central Hudson’s billing practices on March 3rd, 2022.
The Shandaken Town Board has created a form to capture comments from the public about the rate increase, which will be transmitted, along with a formal town resolution, to the Department of Public Service. County Executive Pat Ryan encourages all affected Ulster County residents to participate in Shandaken’s comment collection by visiting https://bit.ly/ShandakenFormNYSEG.
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